Touching Base in Orlando at EHX

March 23, 2009

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Here’s some of what we heard and saw at the recent EHX:

At an outpost in Demo Alley, Dolby’s Craig Eggers demonstrated the company’s newest sound-processing technology, Dolby ProLogic IIz, using the Onkyo TX-SR607 (available soon at $599) – the world’s first A/V receiver to include it. DPL IIz, said Eggers, adds “height” perception to movie sound, decoding signals already existing in the software, for immersive listening. He added that the standard will also permit encoding of  “height channel” information into gaming software for a more beneficial experience. Also used in the demo was Atlantic Technology’s 8200 loudspeaker system and a Vutec Vision X screen.

ELAN Home Systems and its sister brands, HomeLogic, Sunfire and ATON, kicked off its “Takin’ it to the Streets” Spring 2009 Road Show. HomeLogic’s Joe Lautner explained that 200 three-hour dealer sessions that will showcase the brands’ 30 newest products in 50 cities – an outreach that is expected to touch up to 4,500 dealers. Also, the HomeLogic iPhone/iPodTouch Mobile Control interface is now available as a free downloadable iTunes application. The application, he said, once downloaded, can instantly access a live remote demo at HomeLogic that integrators can use to demo HomeLogic’s systems’ capabilities in real time. He also said that ELAN’s Elios built-in speakers and the Sunfire TGM-100 Media Server had begun shipping.

Chris Westfall, vice president of sales for NuVo Technologies, said the company’s driving philosophy is that “value always matters, even to the high-ticket client.”  He said that is what informs the NuVo’s latest design efforts, which include the new Music Port Server – “the thinking A/V installer’s way to provide a network solution.” Its built-in hard drive can play back up to four audio sources simultaneously, and it has Internet radio streaming capability.  Company president David Rodarte said that tooling has been finalized for the NuVo Renovia system, first shown at the 2008 CEDIA Expo and designed for retrofit applications – an area of custom that holds great promise for integrators, as, unlike in the builders market, “there is almost no residential contraction in that market.” Since Expo, Renovia’s Zone Amplifier component has been tweaked; it now uses a magnetized box with an internal metal plate that acts as a heat dissipater.

Control4, said CTO Eric Smith, talked up the kickoff of the company’s fifth annual In Control dealer road tour, which began with Orlando and is heading out to 16 cities through mid-August. “The idea is to help our current dealers become more efficient. We’re giving them accounting, marketing and branding best-practice information now, along with tech tips and tricks – along with face time.” The company, well known for forging high-profile partnerships, will soon announce more. “They will be with companies that run the gamut – involved in everything that touches the home,” said Smith.

Tributaries’ focus was on its T100 and T200 power management products, which are designed with convenience outlets on their fronts, said the company’s Joey Perfito. He added that the company is looking to broaden its presence in that category within the next year.

Next Generation Home Products president Bob Dolatowski was on hand to make his case with integrators for the company’s Remote Control Extender, which easily converts any remote into an RF remote. “The product is a problem-solver for finished systems where you need to control a last-minute add-on product,” said Dolatowski, who said the product has already caught on with the DIY market because of its affordability and easy setup.  The company also sells HDMI cables, adapters, EQ extenders and wall plates, and is planning shortly to add RF repeaters to its lineup.

At Lutron, the Radio RA-SR (single-room) solution was highlighted.  Spokesperson Melissa Andresko said SR offers a way for dealers into lighting control starting at a reasonable price point ($850 for the base system).  It also provides the flexibility of simple integration with programmable remotes. “It’s an ideal solution for companies looking into selling lighting control, and then looking to move to the categories that follow from that, such as window shading,” she said. Lutron also showcased its Sivoia QS wireless skylight shade, which uses a low-voltage, quiet motor and is designed for simplified installation.