6 Best Products for Your Smart House

Denon Packs Bluetooth and Hi-Res Support into PMA-50 Lifestyle Stereo Amplifier
Denon Electronics is making a big effort to get something small into your stereo setup. The company just announced the PMA-50 Stereo Amplifier.

Designed for serious hi-fi listeners who are short on space, this compact amp can deliver 50 watts into 4 ohms, as well as a ton of next-generation music playback options. All of that music comes from the Denon PMA-50â€:²s host of inputs, which includes two optical, one coaxial, and one USB-B for high-res PCM and DSD audio tracks from a PC or Mac. It even has Bluetooth support with NFC (Near Field Communication), so you can stream music wirelessly from any networked smartphone, tablet, or other compatible devices.

That PCM support is worth mentioning, since it can deliver 24-bit/192kHz and 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD tracks. The PMA-50 even has a dedicated noise-isolation block prior to the digital amplifier, so it can eliminate any type of digital noise from the USB input.

Other features include Denon’s Advanced AL32 Processing and DAC Master Clock design, a dedicated headphone amplifier circuit, an analog stereo input for legacy analog sources, and a subwoofer pre-out.

It also looks quite cool—and is compact enough to fit just about anywhere. If you have a really tight squeeze, Denon has made the PMA-50 able to sit horizontally or vertically. Once placed, it’s easy to control via the included remote, which has a cursor keypad, source select and volume controls, setup menu and back buttons, a Bluetooth button, and a display dimmer button.
It is available in black and silver, with an MSRP of $599.

Smart Home Lighting and Security Combine into New DIY Package

Automated lighting is a really cool aspect of the Electronic House. One of the things that makes it so interesting is the fact that there are so many easy lighting solutions available these days. The latest is a product from Lucis Technologies Inc., called NuBryte.
NuBryte combines smart lighting and safety under one cloud-based console. It even throws in a little energy management for good measure.

It’s also insanely easy to install. All you need is a screwdriver and a few basic wiring skills. If you don’t have those, you probably don’t want to be messing with wires. Otherwise, NuBryte just replaces the current switches in your home, transforming any dwelling into a smart home.

The NuBryte System is accessible via a touchscreen control pad or the free NuBryte iOS app. These controls allow you to set the lighting in each room based on certain activities, which can cut down on your monthly energy costs. Then over time, the NuBryte will actually “learn” those patterns and make sure that specific rooms are lit to preferred settings at specific times.

On the security side, the NuBryte can interrupt intruders with flashing lights and send alerts to a smartphone. It can even trigger the system’s built-in camera to capture the action.

Other features include a family calendar, intercom options, weather updates and alerts, and more. The NuBryte even has an open API, so it can support features from other sources.

“Although there are other solutions contributing to the energy conversation, we saw a large void for a complete ‘out of the box’ smart home solution,” says Alan Yuan, co-founder and CEO of Lucis. “NuBryte fills this demand, and goes the extra mile by making it extremely intuitive for families to experience enlightened living.”

NuBryte is currently available for $199 per unit. The product is expected to ship in Q2 2015.

Scout is the Wireless Security System You Design from the Ground Up

Security is about to get personal. That’s what it should be, right? After all, your home, could be an apartment, mega-mansion, or something in between.

Because there are so many different types of homes out there, one security solution may not fit all. However, Scout is making its system easy to adapt to a variety of homes, because you build it from the ground up.

Scout is a wireless security system, which means it’s easy to install into any setting. Beyond that though, Scout allows you to personalize your setup by picking the components, the actions, the level of support, and even the color and finish of the system itself.

Not sure what you need? The Scout website will walk you through building your ideal system, with a series of easy questions.

The Scout Hub is a must-have, since it serves as the center of the setup. This $129 box is what communicates with you and the Scout sensors placed throughout your property. It’s also what alerts your smartphone, your computer, and even your surroundings—via a 106dB siren.

Once you have the Hub, the possibilities are endless, thanks to the Scout Door Panel ($69), the Access Sensor ($29), the Motion Sensor ($49), and the HD Video Camera ($169). There’s even a Scout app, which allows users to check in on devices, set new alerts, pull the plug on false alarms, notify police, and more.

Besides the Hub, Scout does require a monitoring plan. It doesn’t have an annual contract, but you can expect to pay a monthly fee. The $9.99 Always On option features email and text alerts, push notifications and the app, as well as 3G cellular and battery backup. There’s also a $19.99 Always On+ plan, which adds in a 24/7 professional monitoring service.

Samsung Curves Up 105 Inches of 4K Ultra HD TV into UN105S9W

These days, there’s really nothing more eye-catching than a 4K Ultra HD TV. It’s very pretty and very lifelike, offering four times the resolution of a full 1080p HDTV. Now, imagine that picture blown up to a whopping 105 inches. That’s the Samsung UN105S9W.

This beast will earn you some serious bragging rights. First of all, it’s a big 4K TV. It also means that you have the space for such a TV—as well as the budget. This thing comes with an MSRP just as large as its size: $119,999.99.

Not that it isn’t worth the price. It has a curved 21:9 screen that can wrap you up in the best at-home viewing experience you’ve ever had. It does that with a CinemaScope aspect ratio, which can bump the image up to a 5120 x 2160 native resolution. That translates into 11 million pixels! Other image features include Samsung’s Auto Depth Enhancer and upconversion technology, as well as UHD Dimming and Precision Black.

If this is too much screen, you can also turn it into four, via the Quad Screen Multi-Link feature. You can share some of that space with Samsung’s Smart Hub platform, which has access to all sorts of popular apps such as Netflix, VUDU, YouTube and more, five panels of personalization on the home screen, and a quad-core processor.

Just in case you aren’t totally sold, know that the purchase price also comes with “Samsung Elite Service,” which includes an in-home visit from engineers who can calibrate the TV and explain how it works.

The Samsung 105-inch UN105S9W Curved 105-Inch 4K Ultra HD 3D Smart LED TV is available now.

Sony 4K Ultra Short Throw Home Theater Projector Can Turn Any Wall into a Theater Screen

Not everyone has the space for a giant home theater room. However, you can have a home theater system in almost any room—and with 4K—thanks to the Sony LSPX-W1S 4K projector.

This new component is what’s called an “ultra-short-throw” home theater projector, so it doesn’t need a giant room to properly project a giant image. Instead, you can place the LSPX-W1S laser projector just seven inches from almost any wall for an instant home theater, and it will project up to 147 inches of eye-popping 4K Ultra HD images.

Yes, the Sony projector can do 4K, which means that it boasts a display resolution of 4096 x 2160. It also has 4K SXRD panels, TRILUMINOS display technology, and a Laser Light Source, which has a longer life than conventional projector lamps. Other features include powered zoom and focus options, 4K X-Reality PRO processing, 3D support, Auto Color calibration, and four HDMI inputs. It even has integrated speaker units, so you don’t need all sorts of cables hanging out.

That same clutter-free appearance can live in your living room, media room, basement, or any other room, every single day. The slick aluminum finish helps the unit blend into almost any decor quite nicely.

Need some 4K content for that projector? Sony has made the LSPX-W1S compatible with the FMP-X10 4K Ultra HD Media Player. Sold separately for $699.99, this unit can provide access to 4K Netflix and Sony’s Video Unlimited 4K service, for streaming all sorts of feature films and TV episodes in 4K Ultra HD.

Sony is selling the LSPX-W1S 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector for $50,000.

Pronto and Peel Can Turn Your iPhone into a Smart Universal Remote

If you’re addicted to your smartphone, it may be hard for you to drop it and use a handheld remote to control those A/V devices in your home theater or media room.

Instead of giving up your trusty portable to fumble with different remotes, Pronto is putting the power of control into your iPhone. The device works in conjunction with the Peel Smart Remote app to turn your iPhone into a universal remote control.

Designed to control all of your entertainment devices, including TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and more, the Pronto is easy to set up. It’s also small enough to squeeze into your A/V cabinet and uses Bluetooth to communicate with your iPhone. If you plan to put devices inside a cabinet and out of sight, there’s even an optional IR extension cable.

Besides being able to control a lot of your A/V system, the Peel app allows for plenty of personalization. It features a guide, options for favorite channels, and recommendations based on your interests and viewing habits. It will even send out reminders about your favorite shows. According to the company, Pronto with Peel is compatible with more than 3,000 entertainment devices. The app also allows for a second Pronto in a basement, bedroom, or other area of the house. The product will sell for $49.99.