Essential Install | EI Live ! 2017 Review
HEADLINE SPONSOR up and takes advantage of the growing number of products with an IP address to deliver simple Wi-Fi based control .
Habitech visitors were able to experience Trufig ’ s flushinstalled treatment of iPort ’ s Surface Mount and Surface Mount with Buttons . Alternative Sonos control was available from iPort ’ s Xpress Wi-Fi keypad , designed to work from the box to control key Sonos music functions like play / pause , track forward , volume control and to toggle favourites .
Sonance Pendant speakers were on show and are well suited to high vaulted ceilings and for commercial applications . Other highlights included the first Nuvo soundbar to be displayed in the UK , battery powered Q-Motion automated blinds and shades and WyreStorm ’ s new HDBaseT H2X matrix line offering up to 16x16 video and integrated 48x16 audio matrix switching .
“ The excitement at the show has all been about this product . It ’ s the same video platform as the current video matrix range ,” said Dave Schorah , product development manager at Wyrestorm . “ It can push HDR content to 70m . These are our first HDBaseT 4K UltraHD matrix switchers to include dedicated audio matrix switching . This is the big product launch for us this year as it has features unlike anything we ’ ve ever had before and in some cases , unlike any other manufacturer .”
The MX-1616-HDBT-H2X is a 16-way 4K HDR video and integrated 16x48 audio matrix , with its smaller sibling MX- 1010-HDBT-H2X reducing that figure to 10-way 4K HDR video and 10x30 audio matrix .
Also on show was the brand new H2A series 4K HDR HDBaseT 4x4 Matrix + 4x PoH Receiver Kit , featuring enhanced audio connectivity for residential installations . “ We ’ ve had a really good reaction to it ,” said Dave . “ We ’ ve taken lots of orders here at the show . It appeals to integrators of high end residential or commercial projects because it removes the need for a separate audio system .”
Sun-Light Solutions ( SLS ) gave a debut to a new range of bespoke hand blown glass chandeliers .
“ The show was a great success , the new approach worked well ,” said Kevin Martin , managing director , Sun-Light Solutions . “ Social media worked too as new clients were looking out for us , which was great news . The reaction to the new chandeliers was absolutely perfect , and in many ways made the potential sale of the amBX controller just an enabler for the chandeliers .”
Each piece can be controlled together so that the whole chandelier is the same colour , or SLS can enable an amBX experience , where things can become more expressive and colourful as well as react to music or film .
New from Antiference was a new Conexer modulator , the DMHD01R , boasting a single HDMI to DVB-T modulator , HDMI loop out , IR control , a USB record / playback function for digital signage and support of Dolby Digital audio . “ We ’ ve had lots of interest in this product ,” said Antiference ’ s Dan Winterton . “ It ’ s not a traditional HDMI product as it delivers HD in a completely different way . I haven ’ t really stopped talking at the show , which is amazing !”
Home Cinema Showdown
A huge feature of this year ’ s show was home cinema . Genesis Technologies was excited to deliver the very first look in the UK of the Barco Balder Cinemascope , 4K HDR10 laser projector in concert with its other brands including dARTS audio driven by an Acurus ACT4 processor , DT Screens and CATS acoustic treatment , presented in 7.2.4 . Also on show for the first time was Ineva Design , a range of high quality and cool home cinema seating . Cool was a bit of a theme on the stand as the bespoke abilities of the DT Screens brand was on show with a screen masking model with a black leather surround with red stitching . The screen cover which comes into place when not in use can have any image the client wants printed on it , so when off , the screen can become a work or art or it can melt into the background .
Neil Davidson from Genesis enthused : “ We decided to go with our largest ever show presence this year to ensure that each brand had space to make an impact on its own as well as in the demo . We had a tremendous reaction from visitors and the demo room was in use constantly for the duration of the show . We can ’ t wait for next year !” On reaction to the new projector , Hamish Neale , business development manager , EMEA , Barco High End Residential , said : “ We can ’ t deliver them quick enough , the response has been fantastic .”
The dARTS Theater series speakers are available in four variations , tower / monitor , in-wall and custom-box set-ups and unique application sizes can be special ordered . System configurations vary with each option ; main , centre , surround and subwoofer models are included to fit environments up to 18,000 cubic feet in size .
“ EI Live ! is the launch of dARTS as its own brand ,” added Andy Lopez , director of internal sales . “ People can ’ t believe the sound quality – they are very immersive . Most speakers try to be the loudest , but with dARTS , it ’ s quality . We put perfect speakers into imperfect environments and recalibrate .”
Pulse Cinemas was demoing its new concept where installers can purchase whole home cinema packages at a price point not normally associated with the company . See this month ’ s Pulse page for more details , but suffice to say the demo went down well with visitors , many of whom were surprised when they learnt the whole system could be purchased by them for 10K , with a recommended retail price of 17K . The demo called on James loudspeakers , BenQ 4K projection , a Kaleidescape 4K Strato server , acoustic treatment by Vicoustic , Screen Research , a Prismasonic lens and AudioControl amplification in a 5.2.2 cinema .
“ We ’ ve had an amazing show at EI Live 2017 , picking up the award for best distributor and the best sales person ,” said Pulse Cinemas ’ Simon Schino . “ The demo room has gone down an absolute storm and we ’ re really happy with the impact that it ’ s made .”
New exhibitor Sinemas is a company that looks to take care of every element of home cinema design .
Simon Grattidge , design director , said : “ Whatever the style , we can design the perfect space from a luxury living room to a multi-screen boutique cinema and take care of every element of the cinema design , including 3D renders , lighting design , acoustics and furnishing .
“ We are provided with the room dimensions and we design the room and show it to clients using VR . EI Live ! has been good ; the people that get what we ’ re doing , really get it .”
The show was not all work ; installers were able to test their skills in our Formula One simulation challenge . The prize winner was Kit Radmore from Gibson Music , who picked up a Cabasse Stream 1 all-in-one streamer / amplifier / speaker , supplied by Conncected Distribution for his efforts . His winning time was a swift 47.155 seconds .
Also picking up some freebies in the form of the Sanus WSTV1-B1 Swivelling TV Base – the ideal companion to the new PLAYBASE and a cool kit bag also from Sanus – was Martyn Goody , senior designer at Marquee Home . More great giveaways next year !
The dates for everyone ’ s diary for 2018 are May 10-11 , show days for EI Live ! 2018 . Get it locked in now and make sure you take advantage .
30 | May 2017