November 2016 Top Picks at a Glance

While any of the products that made the cut in November are worthy contenders for gift status, three seem particularly well suited for consideration...

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Here's the best gift for people who suck at cooking - CNET

We tested out a smart frying pan to see if it could teach a kitchen newbie how to cook.

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This normal-looking frying pan teaches you to cook video - CNET

We got a cooking newbie to try a smart frying pan to see if it could teach him to cook. Find out what happened on, "Counter/Space."

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The Adventures of K’Scape

If you’re a regular reader then you know we reviewed the Kaleidescape Strato 4K movie player and also reported on the company’s closure and subsequent rebirth.

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Sneak Peek: Oppo's First Ultra HD Blu-ray Player

Oppo has (finally) released details on its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Here's what we know...

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Use this hack to get voice notifications with the Google Home - CNET

What's something Google Home can do that Alexa can't? Notifications. Sort of.

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Vizio M65-D0 Ultra HD Display Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $1,299

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impressive contrast and shadow detail
Handles both Dolby Vision and HDR10
Affordable price
Minus
Wi-Fi sync issue with included tablet remote
No extended-color-gamut capability
Some halo artifacts from local dimming backlight
Only one HDMI 2.0a input

THE VERDICT
Vizio’s budget-minded display handles both flavors of HDR and, a few quirks aside, delivers impressive performance.

When is a TV not a TV? When it’s an Ultra HD Home Theater Display. With the new M series, Vizio has chosen to shake up conventional expectations of what a TV should be and should do. One key change is that each M series set lacks a tuner to receive over-the-air digital TV broadcasts—hence, the company’s use of the term Home Theater Display. Another change is that Vizio has scrapped the typical full-featured IR remote control and replaced it with an Android tablet. Future-savvy or future shock? Read on and find out.

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http://www.soundandvision.com/content/vizio-m65-d0-ultra-hd-display-review

Easy alternatives to hanging Christmas lights - CNET

Ditch the ladder. These tips will have your house lit without stringing lights.

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Ultimate Ears “Free Speaker” BF Promo Continues

Ultimate Ears, maker of custom in-ear monitors used by professional musicians and audiophiles, is continuing its Black Friday promotion through Friday (December 2) as long as supplies last.

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Canary takes security to a bigger screen with Apple TV app - CNET

Hate watching your camera's live feed from your phone? Canary customers can now tune in on Apple TV.

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EPV Unveils Anti-Washout, HDR-Ready Screen

Elite Prime Vision, the custom-installation division of Elite Screens, has introduced an ambient light rejecting screen in a motorized, retractable format for “lights on or off” viewing.

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Digital Artwork Brings Beauty and Variety to a Smart Home

In a smart home the atmosphere is constantly changing, shifting and adapting to your lifestyle. Lights brighten and dim depending on the time of day, window shades lift and lower as issue simple voice commands, music spills at the touch of a button into whichever room you happen to visit. So why shouldn’t the artwork that’s pinned to the walls and propped up on tables also transform?

Thanks to a new technology introduced by Electric Objects (EO), you can change the artwork that’s displayed in your house in an instant. You can choose a bright abstract when you’re entertaining then switch to a landscape the next day. Should you redecorate, you can simply go to the EO app on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet to select a completely new piece to suit the room’s new design. You selection is displayed on a 23-inch matte-finish, 1080p framed LCD screen. Four different frames are available for the EO2 display: black and white painted frames and walnut and maple wooden frames. The display retails for $299; the frames add $79 and $99 to the cost, respectively.

Once you’ve purchased the EO2 and have downloaded the app, you have free access to more than 30,000 community-uploaded works of photography, animation, and video, plus the ability to upload your own. For more options, you can subscribe for $9.99 a month to the EO Art Club, which provides exclusive access to art commissioned for EO, as well as art from museums and curation partners.

The EO2 display plugs into a standard power outlet, has a built-in Wi-Fi antenna, and ambient light sensors and a sleep timer can dim, brighten and turn on/off the display. It comes with wall mounting hardware and non-slip rubber feet.

https://vimeo.com/186324748/7aaa24becc

The post Digital Artwork Brings Beauty and Variety to a Smart Home appeared first on Electronic House.

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Smart Mattress Promotes Better Sleep; Can Start the Coffee Maker

A good night’s sleep eludes many people, but a new technology developed by Eight, just might be the antidote for all that tossing and turning. The startup company has launched a smart mattress. Designed to replace a traditional mattress, it tracks sleep, warms each side of the bed individually, and connects to other smart home devices. The Eight Smart Mattress is designed with four layers of responsive and high density foam, plus a technology layer. It is available for purchase online starting at $950.

Eight’s team designed the smart mattress by studying over 1.8 million hours of sleep data that have been tracked through the company’s first product — the Eight Sleep Tracker— which by the end of the year will be tracking more than 12,000 people across 67 countries.

“We used anonymized sleep data and the feedback of over 10,000 people, to understand which materials and types of mattresses give customers the best sleep,” says Matteo Franceschetti, CEO at Eight. “Based on our research, we saw an opportunity to create a better mattress. So we designed one with a unique blend of four responsive and high density foam layers that provide optimal comfort and support, plus one layer of our proprietary technology that helps people track and improve their sleep.”

The Eight Smart Mattress includes features that improve the sleep experience, like automatic temperature control for each side of the bed, and connectivity with other smart home devices like thermostats, lights and coffee machines. The mattress contains multiple sensors to track sleep times, deep and light sleep, breathing rate, and measure toss and turns, bed temperature, and room temperature. Over time, the Eight Smart Mattress uses machine learning to build patterns on sleep behaviors, and displays suggestions for sleep improvement in its mobile app. It can also share this data with health tracking apps like Apple’s Health and Google’s Fit.

The Eight Smart Mattress comes in full, queen, king and California king sizes, and Eight is offering a 100-night trial and free returns. It ships compressed in a box, and at no cost to customers in the U.S.

The post Smart Mattress Promotes Better Sleep; Can Start the Coffee Maker appeared first on Electronic House.

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3 High-Tech Kitchen Gadgets You Won’t Believe

10 Holiday Lighting Tips for Your Home

As the holiday season approaches, you’ll likely be using your home’s lights a lot more, and in ways that vary from the norm. There may be more people visiting your house and a whirlwind of activity within the household. You might be traveling to kids’ Christmas concerts or even across the country to see loved ones. And of course, there are strings of lights to hang around trees and stretch across fireplace mantels. Yes, your lights will soon go into overdrive; rather than be a slave to wall switches, consider letting technology manage the lighting in your house. It will save time, money, and a lot of aggravation. Here are 10 reasons to automate your home’s lights this holiday season.

1. It will help guests find your house. Why tie balloons to the mailbox to show people where the party is when the exterior lights can do the job so much better, and elegantly? Tied to a control system, the exterior lights can blink for a certain period of time as a beacon. When everyone has arrived you can press a on your phone, keypad, or remote to disengage the feature.
2. It makes people feel welcome. There’s nothing worse than standing on a dark porch waiting for someone to answer the door. Make sure your guests, carolers, and other visitors feel welcome by having a motion sensor trigger on the porch lights the instant that someone steps into its detection path.
3. It gives off the right vibe. Once your guests are inside, you’ll want your house looking its best and to make them feel at home. Dimming the lights can help create a warm and fuzzy feeling; a lighting control system can set multiple dimmers to your preferred levels at the touch of one button on your smartphone. Bam. Instant ambiance. And when the party is in full swing, you can change the mood with brighter lighting, again with another touch of a button.
4. It turns on the Christmas spirit in one fell swoop. You’ve spent countless hours stringing lights outside, inside, tied to trees, hooked on fireplace mantels …Whew, it’s a lot of work. But controlling them all doesn’t have to be so tedious when they’re tied to a single control system. A preprogrammed setting (you might call it “Christmas lights”) can activate the decorative luminaries at a certain time each evening and turn everything off at another preset time. Some lighting control systems, like Lutron’s Caseta, can even tie in music. On command from a remote, the Caseta system can activate a favorite playlist on a Sonos system while setting the lights in the family room for a cocktail party, for example.
5. It provides a path to the bathroom, up the stairs, to the coat closet, etc. Strategically placed sensors can ensure that visitors can easily find their way to the important places in your house by activating a lighted pathway whenever they detect motion.
6. It guest-proofs your house. With people milling about your house, lights are bound to be left on when they shouldn’t be. Motion sensors can signal lights in a powder room or guest bedroom to turn off after someone has left the area. At the same time, you can activate a temporary “do-not-disturb” setting that prevents lights in certain areas—your home office and master suite, for example—from being turned on. This is a signal for guest to stay out.
7. It maintains your sanity. Stop fretting over lights being left on in unoccupied parts of your house. You’ve got better things to do, and a lighting control system can let you check the status of every fixture under its command … right from the screen of your smartphone. You’ll know that your house is running as efficiently and as economically as possible – even with those extra strands of lights.
8. It frees up your hands. ‘Tis the season to arrive home with armloads of groceries and gifts—and just try to hit the light switch when you’re dragging in a live Christmas tree. Rather than poke around with your elbow to tap a wall switch, tap a button on your smartphone as you pull into the driveway. A lighting control system can hear the command and activate select fixtures.
9. It sets a beautiful table … and more. Food and spirits go hand-in-hand with holiday festivities. A lighting control system can arrange the lighting perfectly for food prep, dining, and clean-up afterwards.
10. It bids a fond farewell. After all your guests have left you can quickly shut down the house for the night. A “Good Night” command issued from a remote control, smartphone app, or an wall-mounted keypad can signal every light to turn off.

The post 10 Holiday Lighting Tips for Your Home appeared first on Electronic House.

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Analog Video Is Dead, Analog Audio Lives On. Why?

It’s official. Analog video is dead. On the other hand, analog audio is still alive and well, thank you very much. Why is that? Why was analog video so unloved, while analog audio is beloved?

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Review: Asus ZenBook 3

This 12.5-inch ultrabook has limited connectivity and sells for a stratospheric $1,599. The post Review: Asus ZenBook 3 appeared first on WIRED.

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https://www.wired.com/2016/11/review-asus-zenbook-3/

Smart Gifts for Smart People with Smart Homes

The so-called “smart home” has had a sleepy, low-key year in 2016 as it recovered from several years of over promising and under delivering. The fact is, though, that there are plenty of stellar smart devices on the market. Many of these gadgets can be incorporated into a whole-house automation system or used solo as one of the many parts found in a “clever home”. Here are some of the devices that have “I Want” written all over them.

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3 tips for going camping in your car - CNET

Forget the hassle of bringing the kitchen sink when you go camping. Here are three things you need to know about keeping your camping trips simple and lightweight.

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10 ways to use Alexa in the kitchen - CNET

Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is helpful in many places around the house. Here are nine ways Alexa can help make your time cooking easier and more hands-free.

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Intrega Launches Slim AVR and ‘Object-Based’ Soundbar System

Integra today introduced a low-profile network AV receiver and a soundbar-based system designed for object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound.

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Make your own coffee creamer in a pinch - CNET

Never run out of coffee creamer again. Here's how you can make your own with common kitchen ingredients.

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Amazon Echo has sold over 5 million units - CNET

This smart home gadget is connecting with a diverse user base as consumer awareness grows.

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50 Million Americans Ready to Shop Today

A record 50 million American adults are planning to shop today—“Cyber Monday”—according to data released by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

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Nyrius Aries Pro Wireless HDMI Transmitter Review

Cutting the cable is still a dream for most gear addicts. The interior decorator in your household might be more accepting of new gadgets if you can also get rid of the wire clutter. Thankfully, my household is a bit different, because we’re both technology freaks, which makes reducing wires even more critical for us. As promised a few weeks ago, and still in pursuit of the perfect wireless transmission system for my oh-so challenging concrete house, I had a chance to review the Nyrius Aries Pro Wireless HDMI system.

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Save on Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ultra-Slim Window Alarm (4 Pack) and more - CNET

Save on Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ultra-Slim Window Alarm (4 Pack) and more

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Hitman Review

The Hitman video game series received a bit of a re-tweaking this year, with a new game split among six “episodes” released throughout the year.

All six have been released so I figured it was time to take a look.

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Triangle Bulbs T95035-6 5W E12 LED Candelabra Equivalent to 40W Incandescent Bulb, Warm White (2700K) Chandelier LED Light Bulbs (6 Pack) - CNET

Triangle Bulbs T95035-6 5W E12 LED Candelabra Equivalent to 40W Incandescent Bulb, Warm White (2700K) Chandelier LED Light Bulbs (6 Pack)

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Chamberlain Whisper Drive Garage Door Opener - CNET

Chamberlain Whisper Drive Garage Door Opener

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Kangaroo Light - CNET

Make it Personal: Customize Your Glow with This Whimsical Lightpiece

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Nanoleaf Smarter Kit: Voice-Controlled Lighting - CNET

Let Your Voice be the Light Switch

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Revogi 'Smart Meter' Bluetooth Outlet - CNET

Take Full Control of Your Home Devices--& Lower Your Energy Bill While You're At It

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Bed Light Deluxe 2-Sensor Kit - CNET

Find Your Way in the Dark with These Motion-Sensor, Soft & Warm Lights

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SMFX Bias Lighting Quick Strip - CNET

Soften Screen Glare & Improve Your Home's Ambiance With This Peel & Stick Lighting Strip

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Kasa LED Low Energy Bluetooth Smart Bulbs: 2-Pack - CNET

Eco-Friendly Lighting Meets Smart Technology in These Cost-Efficient Bulbs

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Save on Triangle Bulbs T95051-3-VA, LED 40 Watt Equivalent Dimmable G16.5 Light Bulb, Candelabra Base, Warm White, 3 Pack and more - CNET

Save on Triangle Bulbs T95051-3-VA, LED 40 Watt Equivalent Dimmable G16.5 Light Bulb, Candelabra Base, Warm White, 3 Pack and more

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Klipsch Jumps Into Wireless Multiroom Audio

Klipsch has entered wireless multiroom audio with a family of products, including an elegant, retro-styled tabletop stereo system.

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Editors' Choice: Lutron's light switches are a smart home standout video - CNET

Lutron Caseta in-wall dimmer switches are the best performing, most feature-rich smart switches you can buy, and they work with just about everything -- including Apple HomeKit and Amazon's Alexa.

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Save on Triangle Bulbs T95031 - LED 6-Watt Dimmable GU10 MR16 38 C2 B0 High Power 50W Equivalent, Warm White Light Bulbs, UL Listed, Energy star certified and more - CNET

Save on Triangle Bulbs T95031 - LED 6-Watt Dimmable GU10 MR16 38 C2 B0 High Power 50W Equivalent, Warm White Light Bulbs, UL Listed, Energy star certified and more

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Triangle Bulbs LED Strip Lights - CNET

Triangle Bulbs LED Strip Lights

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11 surprising things Google Home can't yet do - CNET

The Google Home is a pretty well-rounded smart speaker, but there's a bunch of simple things it can't do.

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Motion-Activated LED Toilet Light - CNET

You'll Never Trip, Fall or Miss Again with This Color-Changing Toilet Bowl Light

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SingHong Bluetooth Color-Changing SmartBulb - CNET

Reinvent the Way You Light Your Home with This Smart Color-Changing, Dimmable Lightbulb

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Lutron lights up the smart home with connected light switches - CNET

These luxurious smart home switches let you control your home's lights in a wide variety of ways -- and they work with both Siri and Alexa for voice control.

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https://www.cnet.com/pictures/lutron-lights-up-the-smart-home-with-connected-light-switches/#ftag=CADa08b18a

Philips BDP7501/F7 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $350

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent UHD performance
Solid build quality
Good value
Minus
Limited streaming apps
Less-than-perfect 4K upconversion

THE VERDICT
It’s not without minor flaws, but the second UHD Blu-ray player on the U.S. market delivers a stellar picture from UHD discs at an attractive price.

The launch of Ultra HD Blu-ray players has now progressed from a slow drip to a trickle. Samsung was first with the UBD-K8500 (reviewed in our June issue and also available at soundandvision.com). At CEDIA, Sony showed its upscale UBP-X1000ES but won’t have it out till next spring and hasn’t announced pricing. Oppo’s new player is expected sometime this fall. And Panasonic’s own high-end DMP-UB900, at $700, became available in late September as we were going to press (watch for a future review).

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http://www.soundandvision.com/content/philips-bdp7501f7-ultra-hd-blu-ray-player

Sony Walkman NW-ZX100HN Hi-Res Music Player Bundle

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $700

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Built-in noise cancellation for supplied earbuds
Selectable DSD rolloff filter
Up to 70 hours per charge
Minus
No MQA
Challenging headphones will need more power

THE VERDICT
The Sony Walkman NW-ZX100HN delivers beautifully balanced and transparent sound in a not-too-bulky form factor with excellent ergonomics and the unique plus of built-in noise cancellation, but only for its proprietary earbuds.

With the iPod classic gone, smartphones in almost universal use, and streams elbowing out downloads, is the dedicated music player obsolete? Or could it possibly be a retro survivor that mocks its replacement, the way the resurging turntable mocks the CD player? With emerging specialists like Astell & Kern, FiiO, and Questyle being joined in the market by old-school manufacturers like Onkyo and Sony, there seems to be growing interest in building high-quality players that do a better job of delivering highresolution audio than a phone does.

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http://www.soundandvision.com/content/sony-walkman-nw-zx100hn-hi-res-music-player-bundle

Holiday Tech Guide

When you stop and think how tech-infused our lives have become, it’s no wonder electronic gadgets are the most popular holiday gifts. Technology is cool. Technology enriches our lives. Technology… (add your declaration here). As the holiday shopping season gets under way, we’ve sifted through dozens of potential gifts and settled on 12 at prices ranging from $20 to $800. Approach these pages with an eye toward matching one or more of these gems with friends and loved ones on your list. Or maybe you’ll be inspired to put one or two on your wish list. I don’t know about you, but my family is always asking me what I want for Christmas. I now have a better idea…

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Save on Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ultra-Slim Window Alarm (4 Pack) and more - CNET

Save on Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ultra-Slim Window Alarm (4 Pack) and more

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Netatmo Welcome, Home Security Camera with Face Recognition - CNET

Netatmo Welcome, Home Security Camera with Face Recognition

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Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat, UP500W for Smart Home, Works with Alexa - CNET

Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat, UP500W for Smart Home, Works with Alexa

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Kids try to stump Alexa video - CNET

Totally non-gratuitous video of cute kids talking to Alexa. Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

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Top High-Tech Christmas Gifts: Electronic House Wish List

What’s on your holiday wish list? According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a record-setting 116 million Americans–almost half the U.S. adult population–plan to purchase tech or tech accessories during Black Friday Week, with TVs, laptop computers, smartphones, videogame consoles, tablet computers, headphones, tech accessories, DVD or Blu-ray Disc players, digital cameras, and wearables topping their shopping lists this year. Drones, virtual reality devices, and digital assistant devices, such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home will also be big sellers, says CTA.

Although these items will be hot this holiday season, there are plenty of other high-tech options to consider, so the editors of Electronic House magazine and sister publication CEPro magazine decided to put together their own wish lists of products they’d love to see under the Christmas tree this year.

Lisa Montgomery, Editor, Electronic House magazine

Roomba or some other robot vac

Combine a big dog with a big house, and you’ve got a recipe for a ridiculous amount of vacuuming. It’s a daily chore that happens at my house, so I’ve always dreamed of owning a Roomba vac to suck up all the dog hair, dirt, and debris. I’ve asked for it for Christmas for a few years now, and I’m hoping that this is the year that it finally ends up under the tree. Besides keeping the floors clean, it would also be a fun “toy” to play with from an app on my smartphone—creating cleaning schedules and kick-starting on a whim as I’m working in my home office.

 

Sonos System + Lutron Caseta

My son likes alternative rock, my daughter hip-hop, my husband is into country music, and me, I’m stuck in the ‘80s. The only thing we all have in common is that we listen to our music on headphones or scramble to grab the one portable Bluetooth speaker that serves our entire family. That coveted speaker, unfortunately, is hardly ever in my hot little hands. A Sonos system (with speakers in every room) would be an absolute blessing to our domestic bliss. We’d all have access to the music we like and be able to play it wherever we like … and order up our preferences via the smartphones that have become a common fixture in our pockets. And now that Sonos can integrate with a Lutron lighting system, it’s even better. From one remote, I’d be able to set the music and the lights to create the perfect atmosphere for entertaining guests.

Outdoor TV

Michigan is notorious its cold, snowing winters, but that has never stopped me from craving an outdoor TV. Models from SunBrite, Seura, and Peerless AV have been designed to withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions, and with the cost of these hardy models dropping each year, I think it’s about time to add one to the backyard. We entertain a lot outdoors … yes, even when it’s cold, so having a TV that’s bright enough to enjoy a football game in the afternoon would be a huge party-pleaser.

 

Jason Knott, Editor, CEPro magazine

Google Home Hub 

Ever since Amazon Echo came on the scene and started integrating with various home automation devices, voice control has become all the rage. We use Alexa to run several Lutron Caseta wireless lights (with geo-fencing hooked to our mobile phones), create a shopping list, act as a cooking timer, and listen to my obscure Surf Rock Radio station (my wife would say incessantly). Strangely, Alexa has trouble responding to my eight-year-old daughter’s high-pitched voice. But now the new $130 Google Home hub is out and promises to take voice control to a new level by harnessing Google’s deep search engine for more conversational and practical speech recognition.

Lutron Serena Shades

We have a 141-year-old house that is a converted barn. The floor joists are logs, the windows are original rope and sash, and the entire interior walls are wood boards butted against each other … not even tongue and groove. So, while it looks really neat, it creaks and leaks air, and inside it is very dark. We’ve added skylights, lots of ceiling can lights, and transom windows to brighten the interior. For privacy, we have thick wooden blinds on the windows that complement the interior walls. But it makes for quite a daily task to open the blinds (especially on the south-facing side of the home) to let solar heat warm the home. So, Lutron Serena shades are on my Christmas Wish List. I am just not sure the battery power will be able to drive our heavy wooden blinds.

Smart Thermostat or Ecovent

Our old home has a three-zone HVAC system with old, old thermostats. We walk around wearing hoodies all winter inside the house. We really want something smarter and have been looking at Nest and others. My wife is a daily Amazon shopper and devoted to the online reviews, so she is hesitant to pull the trigger on Nest because it does have a lot of negative feedback. But one way or the other, we will be pulling the trigger on three smart network-connected thermostats this year. However, we might alternatively hire a professional to install an Ecovent system that turns the regular old HVAC registers into “smart” registers.

Julie Jacobson, Founding Editor, CEPro magazine

Motorized Shades

I’ve always thought motorized shades were a killer app. Our last house had a bank of windows so monstrous it would have been challenging to have a system installed. Now we’re in a much more manageable space, so it’s time! Our loft-style master bedroom will never get dark without them.

White Noise Machine

Both my husband and I are so used to sleeping with a fan on, it’s hard to sleep without it. When it’s too cold, we simply face the fan away from the bed. When we travel, we toss and turn all night. So I’m intrigued by the Nightingale, a “smart home sleep system” from the acoustics experts at Cambridge Sound. Plug two units into opposite walls and they will calibrate the system to envelop the space with your choice of ambient noise. It beats local noise machines that typically blast white noise in one direction. Nightingale is still in Kickstarter mode.

If I didn’t already have these things, I’d definitely want them as gifts: Dish’s HopperGo, Amazon Echo, Amazon Dot, Google Home, ALLie 360-degree camera from IC Real Tech, a video doorbell, and automated door locks.

Chelsea Cafiero, Senior Web Editor, CEPro magazine

Honeywell Lyric Thermostat

The Lyric does a lot of the same things that Nest does, but instead of using a motion detector, Lyric uses geofencing to see where you are in your home, or if you’re out. I really like that if you’re on the way home, Lyric will know it and respond by turning on your appliances. For example, it could kick on the air conditioner so that your house perfectly cooled down and ready for when you get home.

I like Nest too, but Lyric supposedly has better HVAC control than Nest because it takes into account the weather outside and even the humidity as it cools down or heats up your home.

Tado Smart AC Control Thermostat

The German-engineered Tado is also a pretty cool thermostat/AC option. Tado adjusts the temperature according to your activities so you don’t have to do it yourself and promises to help decrease your electric bill with energy-saving regulations.

Anything to save money on electricity, and it helps to be a little more green and less harmful to the planet, too.

Robert Archer, Senior Editor, CEPro magazine

Nest Thermostat

I have separate zones of heating in my home and I would like to control my secondary zone with Nest. I’ve read a lot of good things about Nest, and I like the idea of its learning capabilities to really facilitate energy efficiency in my home.

Ring Doorbell

I am still researching Ring, but my home has always had issues with doorbells, and I think the Ring product could be a nice solution to help me overcome those issues, and add a layer of security that traditional doorbells don’t provide.

Lutron Caseta

I already have a basic Caseta system and it is great. I would love to add another zone of Caseta lighting to update my kids’ playroom with an easy-to-use, and install Caseta dimmer.

 

 

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Adventure Park Designer Adds Aerial Sports Gym to His House

Zane Hansen helps to develop extreme recreation parks throughout the country. His company connects families with clean entertainment and adrenaline-packed experiences. So, when he recently built his 13,000-square foot home in Mapleton, Utah, he decided it was a good time to incorporate an indoor aerial sport obstacle gym for his family and friends to enjoy.

Technology Breeds a Healthy Lifestyle

“We have five young kids who each have an enormous amount of energy,” Hansen says. “I thought it would be fun to create an environment that would allow for more active family time. My wife and I both agree there are too many kids sitting around these days. Recreation is a key element for a healthy lifestyle.”

Complete with a “Ninja Course,” rock climbing wall, aerial silks, custom wall murals, and a basketball court, the home required a way to seamlessly control the indoor aerial sport obstacle gym’s lighting and audio to differentiate its environment from the rest of the home. To design a reliable home automation system, Hansen called on local technology integrator Luke Whatcott of Greenline Home Solutions. Whatcott relied on an ELAN Entertainment and Control System as the central hub of the home’s entire technological ecosystem.

Fun Fitness, Easy Control

Thanks to an ELAN gSC10 Controller, supported by an ELAN g1 Controller and an ELAN S1616a Multi-Room Audio Controller, Hansen and his family can control the audio, climate, security, and lighting systems remotely from within the home or anywhere in the world.

“Control at the touch of a button is really important for Zane to create a unique environment within the gym than in the rest of the home,” Whatcott says. “Whether he’s traveling for business or working in his home office, the ELAN system offers seamless control of every element.”

Powerful Audio for a Big Room

Beyond enabling total control, Whatcott and his team were tasked with designing a powerful audio system that delivers a deep bass. With 21-foot-high ceilings in a room that Whatcott describes as an “enormous box,” generating crystal clear sound was a challenge. “Their company is used to having elaborate audio systems in their parks, so audio was an extremely important component of this installation,” Whatcott continues. “We had to use high-end speakers and subwoofers to truly deliver.”

To make sure that the music would be felt and not just heard, Whatcott mounted two Sunfire XTEQ subwoofers in the upper corners of the gym, with SpeakerCraft CRS in-ceiling speakers installed throughout. “The Sunfire and SpeakerCraft products make a great pair,” Whatcott notes. “Together, they create the sound that we were looking for; the in-ceiling speakers direct the sound while the subwoofers really deliver the power.”

Lights Move with the Beat

The gym’s audio system is tied into the lighting system; the black lights and LED lights can “listen” to the beat of the music and “dance” in different arrangements. “We wanted to do something really cool by marrying the lighting and the audio, and we were able to do that pretty easily,” Whatcott adds. “Zane is also able to control the lighting and the music together with one of his two gHR200 remotes or with the ELAN app on his smartphone.”

Beyond the recreational space, Hansen also wanted the best security system possible to make sure that his family would be protected. With 11 cameras on-site both indoors and outdoors, he wanted to consult in one centralized location to ensure that his house is secure. “Through the ELAN app, I am able to view the security cameras from anywhere in the world,” he saus. “It gives me peace of mind to check-in on my family and make sure that they are well.”

Custom Cinema Provides Sensory Experience

Additionally, Whatcott and his team installed a powerful audio system in the home’s custom-built theater. The theater boasts a 145-inch screen with a high quality projector, both of which are controlled through the home’s central ELAN system. He also incorporated two Sunfire XTEQ subwoofers to guarantee a dramatic and sensory sound experience.

Although Hansen and his family officially moved into the home a few months ago, they had time to watch the ELAN system in action while the home was showcased in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes. “I have never used a home automation system before,” Hansen concludes. “Through the showcase, I was able to get a grasp on what it does and what it will do for my family. I am so excited to continue to use it for entertainment, security and beyond.”

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Powerful Whole-House Amp Drives High Res Audio Playback

When someone mentions the name Meridian, often the ensuing discussion centers on digital audio and home theater. Throughout its history, Meridian has earned a position as a market leader in the digital audio category and today, as the home audio market evolves, the company is proactively taking its digital expertise and applying it to categories like whole-house audio.

To that end, Meridian has announced its new 258 Eight Channel Power Amplifier.

“The new Meridian 258 Eight Channel Power Amplifier delivers a premium experience in a small and efficient, cold-running chasis that’s easily integrated into multiroom audio systems and more,” says Ryan Donaher, vice president, sales and marketing, Meridian America. “As a brand that is committed to Hi-Res audio and delivering the best possible experience for any application, we understand the importance of seamless integration.

The 1U-high amp incorporates Class D amplification technologies that enable the amp to produce 70-watts of power into an 8-ohm load, 100-watts of power into a 4-ohm, and because of its Class D architecture, the amp runs cools without the aid of cooling fans, which could potentially add noise to its operation.

The U.K.-based company also points out the 258 doesn’t compromise performance and reliability either. The amp employs an aluminum chassis and audiophile-grade internal components to fully support the playback of high-resolution audio content in whole-house audio systems.

The new Meridian 258 Eight Channel Power Amplifier retails for $2,000.

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7 Lowe’s Products to Prep Your House for the Holidays

Many people know the main benefits of smart home technology – it improves energy efficiency, provides home security, etc. – but what many don’t know is how it can help turn you into a better host and ease your holiday preparations at home. Here are a few ways simple smart home devices can save you time and create a less stressful holiday this year:

1. Comfy quarters: Install a connected space heater in those hard-to-heat areas of your home, warming up the garage apartment or mother-in-law suite to provide comfy quarters for your guests. You can control the device from your smartphone, worry-free.

o   Solution: Iris hub + Connected Duraflame Heater

2. Safe & well lit path: By lining your pathway with LED lights, you can ensure that carolers and other guests make it safely from the street to your front porch…without spraining an ankle or trampling the garden.

o   Solution: Iris hub + LED Path Lights

3. Accomplice in the kitchen: Cooking for the holidays this year? With a connected smart switch, you’ll be able to start and stop any kitchen appliance from your phone and even set a timer so your dishes turn out just right.

o   Solution: Iris Wi-Fi Smart Switch

4. Snow in the forecast?: Call out to a personal voice assistant to learn the forecast tomorrow, the score of the big game or activate any of your other smart home devices.

o   Solution: Iris hub + Amazon Echo

5. Guest room perfection: Create the perfect stay by setting a scene to turn the guest bedroom lights on in the evening and using motion sensors to activate lights in the hall.

o   Solution: Iris hub + Smart Plug + Motion Sensor

6. Away for the holidays: If you’re traveling instead of hosting this year, there’s no need to fear leaving your home behind – with a smart home security system, you can keep tabs on your home and get notified if there’s an intrusion or burglary.

o   Solution: Iris hub + Indoor Outdoor Camera + Contact Sensor 

 

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Polk Audio, Def Tech Preview Black Friday Deals

Polk Audio and Definitive Technology have announced a series of Black Friday deals, a few of which extend into December.

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Our favorite smart home and appliance deals for Black Friday 2016 - CNET

Make sure to bring a big shopping cart for your turkey-laden shopping spree. Here are the best deals on everything from refrigerators to robot vacuums with plenty of smart-home gear and small appliances mixed in.

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Should I Use My Turntable’s Quartz Lock Feature?

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Should I use the quartz lock feature on my Audio-Technica AT-LP120 turntable? I don't see or hear any difference when I press the quartz lock button. Same thing when I press the +10 /+20 pitch control button. FYI, I usually play records with the +10 pitch option selected. —Josh Rosenthal

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Alexa tricks to get you through Thanksgiving with family - CNET

Thanksgiving has the potential for especially fraught family-gatherings this year. Here are some ways Alexa can help.

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Lutron Caseta In-Wall Wireless Smart Lighting Kit review - CNET

Lutron's smart switches are top-notch performers with an exceptional set of features, and they work with just about everything -- including Apple HomeKit and Amazon's Alexa.

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Star Trek: The Great Rewatching Marathon

I had an idea. In hindsight, a really bad idea. I thought it would be cool to rewatch all 13 Star Trek movies, in order, and rank them...

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30 fun Google Home Easter eggs to try - CNET

Google Assistant, the brains of Google Home, is packed full of humor (just like Amazon's Alexa assistant). Here are 30 fun Easter eggs to try with Google Home.

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5 tips for getting started with the TV app for iOS - CNET

The new app aims to change the way you consume movies and TV shows on the iPhone and iPad. Here's everything you need to know to get started.

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A Dozen Black Friday TV Deals

When it comes to Black Friday deals, 2016 is no different than past years. Those who are prepared to venture out into the land of brick-and-mortar will find plenty of blowout TV deals.

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All of Amazon's Black Friday deals on Echo, Fire tablets, Kindle e-readers and Fire TV Stick - CNET

Amazon's got some nice Black Friday discounts on its e-readers, Echo Alexa-enabled speakers, Fire TV devices and Fire tablets -- and some of them are available now.

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Does sleep tech really belong in the bedroom? - CNET

I thought bringing tech to bed was a no-no, but testing out a smart Sleep Number mattress for the past several weeks might have changed my mind.

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Review: Wren V3US and V3USP Wireless Speakers

In a world overcrowded with wireless speakers, Wren is carving out a niche and a name for itself as a higher-end alternative to plastic me-too models. The older Wren V5PF12 model has long been a favorite speaker in my office, so when pre-production samples of two new models became available, I jumped at the chance to audition them.

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Motorized Ambient Light Rejecting Screens Ideal for Any Room

In the “old days” of home theater, people sat in a dark room where the only thing visible was the screen. That’s a perfectly fine approach, but times have changed, and today many people have chosen to locate their theater gear in a room where there’s plenty of light—from lamps, windows, and even fixtures in adjacent spaces. It’s a trend that’s sparked the development of screens designed to combat artificial and natural lighting so that the image on its surface remains as bright and vivid as it would in a pitch dark room.

Elite Prime Vision offers a new series of ALR (ambient light rejecting) projection screens, PolarMax Tab-Tension. The screens are motorized down when you want to watch and up into a casing when you’re using the room for other activities. Available in a 92” to 135” diagonal sizes in a 16:9 aspect ratio, they feature EPV’s award winning PolarMax 1.3 gain material. They are ISF certified for accurate color fidelity while maintaining superior contrast enhancement, color saturation, and brightness retention.  In addition to negating the washout effects of ambient light, the material is 4K/8K Ultra HD, Active 3D, HDR ready. It is also tab-tension reinforced for optimal screen flatness.

The design is housed in a stylish aluminum casing which has aesthetically pleasing sleek lines that will complement any interior decor. Its sliding installation brackets mount quickly and snap the PolarMax into place.  Because the brackets slide horizontally, the screen will be perfectly centered every time.

It has a standard power connection and also features RS232 ports. Its control features include an in-line up/stop/down toggle switch on the endcap for easy operation.  A full IR/RF, control kit also accompanies the screen. This includes remotes, extended IR “eye” for hidden installations, and a 12 volt trigger that synchronizes screen operation with the projector’s power cycle.

Prices start at $ 2,074.

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Modular Theater Can Be Assembled Right At Home

Delivering surround formats to home theaters can be a tricky project, but with the right speaker configuration, it gets easier. James Loudspeaker has announced its Modular Indoor/Outdoor Theater, an innovative approach to delivering immersive sound to any environment in a high-performance, fully custom freestanding form factor.

James says the product is a built-to-size aluminum structure to be assembled onsite, housing all of the required loudspeaker components for any surround format. The system is compatible with an array of subwoofer options depending on the décor and acoustic requirements of each room.

The James Loudspeaker Modular Indoor/Outdoor Theater can be used for all three immersive audio formats; Dolby Atmos, Auro3D and DTS:X as well as conventional 5.1 or 7.1 surround formats based on the  speaker configuration selected.

Conceived as a fully customizable freestanding solution, the Modular Indoor/Outdoor Theater is capable of delivering superb cinematic performance to an existing room without the need for any modifications to the space.

As an outdoor theater, the free-standing powder coated aluminum structure is ideally suited and can be mated to an array of landscape subwoofer options such as subterranean models for the most discreet visual presentation.

Each custom configured James Loudspeaker Modular Indoor/Outdoor Theater, which starts at $60,000, is composed of aluminum with marine-grade coatings to withstand outdoor environments and features sealed beam construction for compact size.

The package can be ordered in 15 standard colors, or a custom color at additional charge. Source components and amplification sold separately.

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3 Stellar Home Theater Systems for the Holidays

Gift giving is never easy. Figuring out what to buy each member of your family, actually finding those items, and hoping once they are purchased that they’ll be huge hits are reasons enough to inspire some families to skip individual presents for one big gift that everyone will appreciate.

Before you book a family trip to a tropical destination as your universal present-to-all, consider adding a killer entertainment system to your home. Complete with a big screen, surround-sound system, and media player that’s able to dole out a massive array of content, it’s a gift that everyone, regardless of age of gender, will be thrilled to unwrap on Christmas morning.

So start planning now. If you’ll be putting together a system yourself, you’ll need plenty of time to put all the pieces together. Of course, a professional home theater designer can help—and we’ve asked a few to provide us with their recommendations—they range from $7,000 to $50,000, and most designers offer flexible payment options. And remember, nothing beats the handiwork of a professional, so call one in your area now to make sure there’s enough time to complete the project before Santa slides down the chimney. Our three experts have suggested screens, speakers, source equipment, as well as a control system to simplify operating all the gear.

System #1

Recommended by: Rich Conklin, ResCom Integration, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Display: Sony XBR-65X850D. This 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TV comes packed with features. It’s a smart LED TV with Google Cast, which means you can search for shows by using your voice. High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology ensures better contrast, black levels, picture detail, and a wider color gamut than non-HDR TVs.

The Surround Speakers & Subwoofer: Sonance SUR.5S In-Ceiling Surround Speakers (4) and Sonance SUB 10-150 Subwoofer. Each of the four speakers in this package is designed to fit into a standard ceiling cavity and feature an angled driver for accurate imaging and clear dialogue. The subwoofer can be integrated into cabinetry or hidden behind furniture. It features an integrated amplifier.

The Center-Channel Speaker: Leon Speakers Horizon Hz44. This soundbar, which serves as the center-channel of the surround-sound system, is custom-crafted to match the exact width and finish of the display and to mount easily to the bottom of the TV. It measures just 3.25 inches deep.

The Audio/Video Receiver: Sony STR-ZA2000ES. This 7.2 channel receiver delivers 100 watts per channel, and is ideally suited for streaming 4K content, thanks to a built-in HDCP 2.2 repeater, six HDMI inputs, and two outputs. It supports DTS-HD and Dolby True HD audio.

The Source: Sony BDP-S5500 Blu-ray Disc Player. In addition to spinning Blu-ray discs, the BDP-S5500 can stream content to your TV from 300+ streaming app, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, and more. It’s a full HD player with 3D capability. A built-in web browser and enhanced Wi-Fi module let you surf the Internet and stream with reliability and speed.

Another Source: AppleTV. Hands-down this is one of the most versatile media servers on the market. Access to all kinds of apps, streaming music, videos, and photos from the cloud or your iPad/iPhone, and most recently, integration Apple HomeKit devices, which means your Apple TV hub can relay commands from your iPhone or iPad to thermostats, light switches and more.

The Control: Control4 C4-EA1-SR. The EA-1 bundle is a great starter kit for control. It enables every component comprising a home theater to be controlled from a single remote and automated for convenience.

Approximate Cost: $10,760 (excludes professional installation)

System #2

Recommended by Andrew Davis, Gramophone, Timonium, Md.

The Display: Stewart Filmscreen, 110-inch, 16:9 screen.

The Video Projector: Epson Pro Cinema 4040 Projector. This projector supports both 4K and HDR, and features a motorized lens which makes it a cinch to zero in on its target: the 110-inch projection screen.

The Surround Speakers & Subwoofer: Golden Ear Technology SuperSat SS3-B Surround Speakers (4), SS3C-B Center Speaker, ForceField 3 Subwoofer. The speakers in this package are elegantly curved and are finished in a piano-gloss black. They feature a special tweeter design that boasts improved dynamic range. The subwoofer works well for providing musical detail and high-impact power for action movies.

The Audio/Video Receiver: Integra DSX-3. This 6.1 channel receiver delivers 80 watts per channel and supports virtually all lossless audio formats for high-res audio reproduction. It also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and can be integrated with home automation systems.

The Control: URC MRF350 Base Station and MX780 Remote Control. This duo eliminates the need to point a remote directly at the components you want to control. Signals issued from the remote travel by radio frequency to the Base Station, which translates them into infrared signals that the home theater equipment can understand. This means you can store all the A/V equipment in a closet—even one that’s in another room.

Approximate Cost: $6,999 (excludes professional installation)

System #3

Recommended by: Dan Paulson, Paulson’s Audio & Video, Farmington Hills, Michigan

The Display: Screen Innovations 120-inch Black Diamond Zero Edge with LED. This ambient light rejecting screen can display bright images even in well-lit rooms. Optional LED lighting can be added behind the screen for added effect and to complement the room design.

The Video Projector: Sony VPLVW365ES 4K SXRD Home Cinema Projector. This projector produces 1,500 lumens of brightness and upscales Blu-ray Discs and DVD movies to near 4K quality.

The Projector Mount: Chief RPMAU Ceiling Mount

The Surround Speaker and Subwoofers: B&W CT7.3 (3), B&W CWM7.3 (4), B&W CCM7.3 (4), B&W CTSW12 (2). This combination of speakers and subwoofers creates a Dolby Atmos surround-sound configuration. The speakers and subwoofers can be tucked into the ceiling, walls, or inside cabinetry.

The Subwoofer Amplifier: B&W SA1000. This Class D subwoofer amplifier can drive two subwoofers and has an output of 1,000 watts.

The Audio/Video Receiver: Integra DRX-R1. This 11.2 channel receiver is an object-based surround processor that can handle Dolby Atmos and DTS:X setups. It delivers 140 watts per channel, and is THX-certified and able to handle high-res audio formats.

The Source: Oppo Digital BDP-103D Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player. This player is fully compatible with Blu-ray 3D discs and can stream HD video from VUDU, CinemaNow, and others, as well as music from Pandora, Rhapsody, and other sites.

The Control: Control4 C4-EA-3 Controller and SR-260 Remote. The EA-3 Controller and companion remote boil down the operation of the theater components to a single touch of a button. Moreoever, the Controller serves as an automation hub capable of controlling lights, thermostats, door locks, and other devices.

The Audio/Video Cabinet: Salamander Designs Oslo 247. This sleek low-profile cabinet can be mounted to the wall for a modern appearance. Its smoked glass doors are framed in aluminum.

The Seating: Row One Plaza RO8013TU-03PS (3 chairs). The split back cushions provide excellent lumbar support and the seats come with motorized recline for adjustments at the touch of a button. A removable swivel tray for each seat also comes standard.

Approximate Cost: $47,497 (excludes tax, wire, and professional installation)

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