The goal: create a beautiful, great sounding, state-of-the-art home theater for an entertainment executive and his family. Wilshire Home Entertainment in Thousand Oaks was up to the task.

The project involved turning an open loft into the homeowners’ dream theater. Keeping sound from leaking into other parts of the home was a big challenge. Wilshire Home Entertainment, which specializes in high-performance home entertainment installations, and GNS Construction in Thousand Oaks, enclosed the 400 square foot loft using specialized acoustic products such as “floating” walls and floors to keep the room soundproof. Another challenge was to retain a large bay window that opened to a breathtaking view. Motorized blackout shades were installed allowing the homeowners to enjoy their great view when the theater is not in use.

The theater ties seamlessly with the rest of the house. The theater’s carpet design was reproduced on the long stairway leading to room. The staircase railing was also refinished to match the theater’s wood accents.

The sophisticated entertainment system includes a 110-inch screen, Runco LED projector, seven B&W speakers, two JBL subwoofers, four Classe amplifiers, DIRECTV satellite, Lexicon Blu-Ray player, Apple TV and a Savant iPad control system. Finishing touches included soffits, uplighting and luxurious theater seating.

The homeowners were shown the room at the beginning of construction and only again when it was completed. They were blown away at the finished results. They now use the room almost every day to entertain, enjoy family time and relax after work.

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Sonos recently added its new Play:3 wireless speaker to their wireless music system. Its a compact speaker that consists of three drivers, three amplifiers and a rear-firing bass radiator all for $299!

Combine the Play:3 with the $49.00 Bridge and you can enjoy your entire music collection and stream music from internet radio stations and subscription services anywhere in your home.

When it comes to playing music, Wilshire Home Entertainment and Sonos believe all rooms should be created equal. Thats why you can put ZonePlayers in absolutely any room where you want music. With Sonos, no room is off-limits and you can add music wirelessly to practically any number of rooms: the bedroom, the backyard, even the bathroom.

With the touch of a finger you can find and play a world of music, whether its streaming direct from the Internet or stored on your computer. Tune in to your favorite radio station or browse through your entire music library. You can play the same song in every room or choose different songs for different rooms. Its up to you. And so is which Controller you use the dedicated Sonos Controller 200, Sonos Controller for iPhone, Sonos Controller for Mac or PC, or a combination of all four.

Shopping for the perfect TV can easily become a frustrating experience. In the old days (well, not that old) we had one choice: CRT. Now TVs come in a variety of technologies, and even within each technology there are some slight, but important, variations. Well guide you through the basics to help make the decision process easier, then you can use that knowledge to pick the best TV for your home.

LCD

When Sharp first popularized the flat panel LCD TV, models were small, expensive and didnt look that great compared to other popular display technologies. A lot has changed in that time. Todays LCD TVs come in any home theater size, and feature the best performance characteristics to meet a videophiles standards.

LCDs, which work by allowing light to pass through a liquid crystal encased in a cell, require a light source. Traditionally this was done with a type of fluorescent light called a CCFL. CCFL TVs had the disadvantage of allowing a lot of light to leak around the cells, producing a duller image with poor contrast. Many newer TVs now use light emitting diodes or LEDs to produce the light. LED-based LCD TVs use a lot less energy than CCFL TVs, they can be brighter, show more accurate colors and, when combined with a local dimming technology, can have better contrast. LED-based models can also be extremely thin, sometimes less than an inch thick.

To make matters more complicated, LED LCD TVs come in two varieties: full back lit and edge lit. Edge-lit TVs have the LEDs mounted around the edge of the panel and employ channels to get the light to the screen. Edge-lit TVs can be very thin and are usually a little less expensive than full back-lit models. Back-lit TVs usually are a little thicker, but can be designed with hundreds of LED clusters that will shut off for dark scenes on screen (called local dimming) resulting in a much better picture.

LCD TVs sometimes have trouble with fast action, so manufactures have come up with systems to double, triple or quadruple the standard refresh rate of the screen. TVs that feature 120 Hz or higher processing can make action look smoother. However, sometimes that same processing makes film-bases movies look like sitcom videos. Its a good idea to experiment to see what looks good to you.

LCD TVs are usually the brightest of the TV technologies, which makes them good for rooms with lots of light or windows.

Plasma

The first popular flat-panel TVs were plasma TVs, and many videophiles still consider them the best. Plasmas work similarly to the old-fashioned CRT TVs in that they have a screen coated with phosphors. The difference is that each phosphor is encased in a cell with plasma gas. When the gas is triggered electronically, it causes the phosphors to emit light. Thus, in a plasma TV, the light essentially comes from the surface of the screen rather than from a light source behind it.

Because there is no light source behind the screen, theres no light leakage. That benefit allows plasmas to have very good contrast and black level, which helps to create the rich picture home theater fans want. Plasmas are usually not as bright as LCD TVs, and they can be more reflective. They also tend to be thicker (about three inches thick), though a few companies have shown ultra-thin models.

In the past, plasma TVs had a reputation for burn-in or image retention. That happened when a static image remained on the screen for extended periods. This was a problem for channels that posted a network logo or video games that kept the score in the same place for long periods of time. TV makers have mostly resolved this problem, so you really have to work hard to burn in an image. Temporary image sticking can happen, which appears as a slight ghost image, but that always goes away in a moment or two.

Plasma TVs are usually less expensive than equivalently-featured LCD models.

Rear Projection

Rear projection TVs are not as common as they used to be, but Mitsubishi specializes DLP models. DLP TVs use micromirror chips from Texas Instruments. On the DLP chip are thousands of tiny mirrors that reflect light onto the screen. The mirrors flip on and off much faster than a human can detect, so the type of processing that LCD TVs need isnt necessary.

Most DLP TVs today use lamps which need to be replaced every few thousand hours. Replacement lamps can cost several hundred dollars, but DLP TVs are often much cheaper than flat panel TVs (especially at large sizes), so you need to consider the tradeoff. A few models use LEDs light which never need to be replaced. Mitsubishi makes DLP TVs that use a laser light source that also never needs to be replaced and has the ability to create extremely accurate and bright colors.

If wall-mounting isnt an issue, a DLP TV may be a good choice.

All three TV technologies are available in 3D TV models.

Source: HD Living

Working late again? Dreading the drive home, arriving to an empty, dark, cold and quiet house? Envision having the power to transform your homes lighting, audio, video, window coverings even the heating and air conditioning system with just the touch of a button. Home Automation brings this power directly to your fingertips. As you enter the driveway and hit the controller to open the garage door, the lights gently light-up your path into the house, the sound system is playing your favorite music, the drapes close for privacy and the temperature is adjusted to feel just right from the moment you step over the threshold.

Just Imagine

Visualize being able to control every system and appliance in your home remotelyin much the same way you channel surf. Thats the promise of home automation. Imagine you are sitting with your friends watching a movie in your home theatre and the phone rings, you hit the pause button and your system will receive the pause event from the remote control and instruct the DVD player to pause while telling the lighting system to gently turn up the lights slowly to the 40-percent level to allow your eyes to adjust. While your friends are talking about how cool that trick was, you end your phone call and simply hit play on the remote and the system turns the lights smoothly down while starting the movie again to everyones amazement.

Light Up Your Home

Hosting a special dining party? Easily set lighting to accentuate points of interest such as a special piece of artwork. Limit the mingling areas by lighting only the rooms or sections for the gathering. And when your guests have bid farewell, press one button to say farewell to your evening as well. The doors are locked, security system activated, stereo is quieted, shades drawn, temperature adjusted and a path of lights lead the way straight to the master suite.

This is a lifestyle enhancement you get when going green. Home automation technology is becoming as synonymous with sustainability as it is with convenience. This automation has been making homes greener, almost by accident, for nearly a decade. Controlling the lights, HVAC systems, water heaters, entertainment systems and even drapes and blinds can save home owners as much as 25% or more in electricity consumption. Youll be the envy of your friends and neighbors when your power bill comes in lower each and every month while theirs continues to grow.

Selecting Vacation mode from your touch screen remote control to automatically setback all thermostats to energy-conserving mode and automatically lower motorized shades or close drapery in sunlight-exposed rooms when the temperature raises to a preset temperature will amaze your neighbors while you are away, How are they doing that when they are not even home? Honey, did the Smiths hire house sitters while they are away? Selecting home automation proves you can be a good steward of the Earth while enjoying the benefits of the latest electronics.

The savings dont stop there, Occupancy sensors in the rooms trigger an energy miser scene that shuts off lights and reduces heating and air conditioning when family members leave the room. That scene also shuts off electricity to some televisions, laser printers and personal computers to eliminate parasitic energy loadsalso called standby, phantom or vampire powerthat many electronics consume even in their off states.

A Smarter Home

Sounds like something from a futuristic sci-fi movie? Perhaps, but with todays smart homes the entire system can be automated with simple touch panels and controlled from anywhere in the world with internet access or iPhone. So maybe we really are reaching far into the future. However, considering our busy lifestyles of today, wouldnt it be nice to have one more thing automated and one less thing to be concerned about?

The best time to think about home automation is now, while you are planning your new home or retrofitting an older home to accommodate updated software and electronic needs. As experts agree, these upgraded systems in old or new construction save time and money. Making all these different systems work together is what we specialize in at Wilshire Home Entertainment each and every day. That and making your neighbors green with envy or at least giving them a taste of the sustainability bug of their own.

Source: HD Living

Youve probably seen EnergyGuide labels on refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, telling you how much energy they use. Now those big, yellow labels are coming to your next TV. Have you seen them yet?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has adopted new rules requiring that all televisions manufactured after May 10, 2011 be labeled with new triangular or rectangular EnergyGuide labels. These televisions are just now beginning to appear in showrooms and those big, yellow labels are here to stay. Not only are the labels required on the front of TVs in the store, but also on websites where the TVs are sold.

Unlike many years ago, before flat screens and plasma, todays televisions vary widely in the amount of energy they use, said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. By comparing information on the EnergyGuide Labels, consumers will be able to make better-informed decisions about which model they choose to buy, based on how much it costs to operate per year.

For labeling purposes, the FTC assumes that the average television is turned on about five hours per day. The new label consists of two main disclosures: first, the televisions estimated annual energy cost; and second, a comparison with the annual energy cost of other television with similar screen sizes. For example, based on the EnergyGuide labels on televisions on display now at Wilshire, you can expect to pay $17 to $24 per year to operate a 55 flat screen television.

The new labels are a small but important addition to help us all make smart choices. Only time will tell if the EnergyGuide labels will encourage consumers to buy more energy-efficient models.

By Grant Clauser/Electronic House

The machine that is Integra keeps pouring out the A/V gear. Recently the company rolled out a number of new networked-capable audio/video receivers designed for the custom home theater/media market.

All four new receivers, the DTR-20.3, DTR-30.3, DTR-40.3 and DTR-50.3 are all THX certified and include a suite of networking features.

On the video processing side, the new DTRs include Marvells Qdeo 4K upscalling. The DTR-50.3 goes a little further by adding an IDT HQV video processor. With that you get detailed ISF calibration controls and a lot of upconversion power.

The DTR-50.3 and 40.3 include Audyessys MultEQ XT processing for correcting room acoustics. They also include Dolby Volume to keep listeners from getting blown away by excessively loud commercials.

The systems all have mongo networking capability, with Window 7 and DLNA certifications, plus access to streaming services from Mediafly, Pandora, Slacker, Napster, Rhapsody, vTuner, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio, and, on the DTR-40.3 and DTR-50.3 only, Last.fm. You will need an USB Wi-Fi adaptor to go wireless, but they all include an Ethernet port for good, old-fashioned wired connections. Front USB ports also can be used for an iPod dock.

The entry-level DTR-20.3 is a 5.2-channel unit 8-ohm rated at 90-watts per channel; the DTR-30.3 is a 7.2-channel system 8-ohm rated at 100 watts per channel; the DTR-40.3 is a 7.2-channel system 8-ohm rated at 110 watts per channel; and the DTR-50.3 is a 7.2-channel system 8-ohm rated at 135 watts per channel.

To make these products easy for professional installers to integrate into home systems, each unit includes bi-directional Ethernet and RS232 ports for control, 2 IR inputs and 1 out, 3 programmable 12-V triggers, non-volatile and lockable dealer settings, firmware updates via Ethernet and USB, Overlaid Graphical On-Screen Display (OSD), and GUI Navigation via HDMI. The DTR-20.3 has Zone 2 preouts with independent volume, bass, treble and balance controls. The DTR-30.3 adds powered Zone 2, the DTR-40.3 adds Zone 2 video, and the DTR-50.3 adds zone2/3 preouts. The DTR-50.3 also includes a bidirectional, preprogrammed, and customizable remote controls with on-screen set-up, mode-key LEDs, and Macro presets for four activities.

Pricing for the new units begins at $600 for the entry level, up to $1,400 for the 50.3.

Source: HDLiving.com

by Ron Goldberg/Electronic House

Its fine. Good enough. Nothing wrong with it. Close enough for rock and roll. Ask an average music lover (any of the billions will do) what they think of the sound quality theyre getting at home and thats what most of them will answer. And theyd be right.

Decent (and sometimes even better than decent) sound quality is now common in the marketplace, mostly thanks to how pervasive digital music has become in our daily lives. Much of this can be attributed to a small rectangular device with an i in its name that for many music lovers is the only audio system they know. For a lot of listeners, that device is, well, pretty good. But when it comes to their music, theres a lot of other people who feel that pretty good isnt a desirable end. Rather, its only a beginning.

Now were talking about high-performance audio, which bears as much resemblance to mass-commodity audio as a fine roadster does to the family sedan. The car analogy is overused but appropriate to describe the difference that high performance audio makes two makes and models might both do the same things but offer a very different experience. Both a Toyota and a Porsche will get you where you want to go. Theyll have the same essential features and work the same way. But no one would seriously argue that one is the same as the other. One is utilitarian, the other is gourmet. The differences arent subtle.

What Distinguishes High Performance Audio?

High performance audio isnt just a box of technology, its a labor of love. Manufacturers many of them small, boutique companies routinely spend thousands of man-hours tweaking and tailoring the designs and materials of these products in pursuit of just one Holy Grail

For over 33 years, Furman has pioneered the development of AC power products for the most demanding audio, video, and broadcast professionals. Though the need for pristine AC power is nothing new, the Elite-20 Power Factor is technology and its unique implementation are revolutionary and without peer.

The extreme AC demands encountered in the professional audio/video arena have required technological developments far in excess of typical home theater/audiophile power products. In studios, live sound, and broadcast facilities, breakdown is unacceptable. Equipment failure or poor performance is costly. The same is true of todays home theater. Our solution based technology, extensive engineering expertise, and robust build quality have answered the challenge of todays corrupted power lines, and led to the creation of the Elite-20 PF i.

Uncompromised Audio System

Todays power lines are plagued with RF and EMI noise. When connecting sensitive equipment to your homes power outlet, AC noise couples into your systems critical components, masking low level signals and crippling performance. This low level content is critical because it relays the crucial harmonics and ambience in audio, as well as the depth and clarity in video. The Elite-20 PF i is so substantial in its ability to unmask critical signal content, its performance is surpassed only by the Furman Reference Series. With Furmans Ultra-Linear Filtering, televisions, projectors, DVD players, amplifiers, and processors are fed pristine AC power. For the first time, you will see and hear your theater or audio system as it should be uncompromised.

Series Multi-Stage Protection with EVS

Another critical feature is our exclusive Series Multi-Stage Protection featuring Extreme Voltage Shutdown (EVS). This virtually maintenance-free surge suppression assures the highest level of AC protection possible, without sacrificing itself when the offending surge is severe no damaged equipment, no service calls, no down time. Further, our famous retractable front panel LED lamps allow easy viewing of either a rack or cabinet full of equipment, even when your theater lights are off.

Remote Control

The Elite-20 PF i also features remote control capability via 12V triggering, compatible with the 12V triggering devices commonly found in power receivers and pre-amp processors. Additional products (such as a remote subwoofer) can be daisy-chained from the 12V output jack for an additional triggered unit. The 12V triggering feature may be bypassed if desired.

Power Factor Technology

The essence of the Elite-20 PF i is Furmans unique Power Factor Technology. For the first time, low-level analog, digital, and video components are not modulated or distorted by the power amplifiers extreme AC current demands. Further, the power amplifier is fed a highly filtered, extremely low-impedance supply of AC power. The Elite-20 PF i, in fact, has in excess of 4 Amps of continuous current reserve (over 55 amps peak charge) for the most extreme peak power demands. This technology enables power amplifiers and powered subwoofers to operate at maximum efficiency, reaching levels of performance previously unattainable.

No longer will your amplifiers performance be at the mercy of your homes incoming AC power or inferior AC protection/filtering devices. The net effect is as if your power amplifier virtually doubled in power and improved immeasurably in quality.

Elite-20 PF iClearer Sound & Video

When employing the Elite-20 PF i, you will immediately notice far clearer, stunningly focused sound and visual images from your system. Video presentation will be crisp and colors true with greater gray and black scale definition, as well as noticeably improved depth and clarity. Sonic transients will be startlingly fast with bass fundamentals that shake foundations with their weight and visceral impact. Mid and high frequencies will bloom with sweet, non-glaring ease as imaging improves dramatically, all the while remaining true to your systems inherent virtues.

Learn More about the Furman Elite-20 PF i

Source: HDLiving.com

This is part two of a two part feature presented by AudioQuest. Missed the first half? Read HDMI Demystifed Part 1 for an understanding on what HDMI is and how it works.

As we learned in Part 1, High-Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, is a digital audio, video and control signal format defined by seven of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers.

HDMI Cables

All HDMI cables are made up of 19 individual conductors. Many of these wires perform multiple tasks and transmit large amounts of data, so the quality of the conductors, precision of the geometry, and the quality of the termination all affect the ability of the cable to properly implement its tasks.

For the most part, unlike HDMI enabled components, HDMI cables do not have features, they have capacity (often described as speed and measured in Gbps). The one exception to this is the new Ethernet feature, which requires a Ethernet-compatible cable. Other than this exception, the cable does not care what the resolution, color depth, or refresh rate of the signal is, as long as the data that makes up the signal is not too large for the cable to pass. HDMI LLC has approved two different categories of cable based on their respective speed ratings.

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The iPod and iPhone revolutionized the music industry and the cellular telephone industry. Thereare now millions of smartphones in existence, the most popular being iPhone and Android models. While most people use smartphones for receiving e-mail and making phone calls and listening to music, smartphone applications are making it possible to do just about anything with your phone.

In 2008, Apple introduced the world to the App Store. Since then over 10 billion applications have been downloaded by users. Now apps are available for all smartphone platforms and can also be found in other devices such as internet connected Blu-ray players and televisions.

Smartphones and their applications add a new dimension of technology integration to your lifestyle by providing control beyond the confines of the house.

Theres virtually no amenity in an integrated home that you cant control from an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android powered smartphone. Applications from leading control companies such as Sonos, Lutron, Control4, Crestron, and Savant give you complete control of your home, including:

• Distributed Audio & Video Systems
  • Stream music and movies around the house with an Apple TV system.
  • Stream your digital music and music subscription services throughout your house wirelessly with Sonos.
  • Control and connect receivers and iPod docks compatible with Apples AirPlay.
  • Control connected devices such as your DVR so that you never miss your favorite shows again.

• Lighting, Shades, and HVAC Systems.
  • Adjust the lighting in a single room or throughout your entire house with the touch of a button on your smartphone. You can even control the lighting when you are away from home!
  • Raise and lower shades to reduce heating and cooling costs.
  • Adjust heating and air conditioning systems for efficiency or to adjust the comfort of your home before you arrive.

• Security
  • View security cameras to monitor your home and loved ones.
  • Activate and monitor your security system.

• Automation Systems
  • Full control of integrated automation systems from Control4, Crestron, Lutron and Savant.

These are just a few of the options available, but the possibilities are endless. To learn more about how Wilshire Media Systems can give you complete control of your home from your smartphone, visit our showroom and experience these great technologies for yourself.