by KMB Communications | May 21, 2024 | Future Ready Solutions, Kordz, News
Simplifying integration and assuring seamless interoperability of commercial projects, Future Ready Solutions, a national distributor, introduces systems integrators to several new connectivity solutions at InfoComm 2024.
(Bonita Springs, Florida) May 21, 2024 – Dedicated to helping systems integrators design, sell, and install connectivity systems that transmit the full capabilities of 4K and 8K HDMI, gigabit and 10-gigabit networks and end-to-end fiber optic systems, Future Ready Solutions brings its diverse portfolio of products to InfoComm 2024 at Booth #C10157.
Future Ready Solutions stocks a robust assortment of best-in-class connectivity solutions proven to work reliably together, making it the go-to resource for over 1,500 dealers in the industry. Commercial integrators will find the products, service, and support they need to successfully deploy advanced networking systems for a broad range of applications.
During InfoComm, Future Ready Solutions will feature new products from three of their premier technology partners: Kordz, LightSpeed Technologies, and Xtreme Power.
Kordz ONE Balanced Audio Cable and XLR Connectors
Meticulously designed and engineered, award-winning new ONE Balanced Audio Cable and XLR Connectors offer systems integrators a robust, fast, and effective connectivity solution for professional audio installations. Featuring high-purity stranded OFC conductors and aluminum foil shielding, ONE Balanced Audio Cable is exceptionally flexible and easy to install and ensures minimal signal interference over extended distances. The cable’s installation-friendly, flexible, and durable design makes it ideally suited for professional installations. The ONE Balanced Audio Cable pairs with Kordz’ new ONE XLR Connectors, designed and engineered with a robust zinc-alloy shell and gold-plated solid pins, enabling easy termination and endurance. The connectors can withstand over 5,000 insertions, ensuring long-lasting reliability. The connector’s cable clamp can accommodate a versatile range of cable outer diameters, making it suitable for a variety of audio applications. Its compatibility with international standards, including IEC 61076-2-103, ensures that it fits seamlessly with a wide array of professional audio equipment. The internal pin insert is colored in Kordz’ signature orange, adding a unique visual touch, while maintaining the excellent functionality and performance for which Kordz is known.
Kordz ONE Series Cat6 and Cat6A Cable
The Kordz ONE Series Cat6 cable has been designed and engineered to exceed the bandwidth requirements of 4K video installations. Supplied in a 305m professional pull box, the Rapid-EZ reel allows the easy flow of cable from the box, minimizing twisting, curling, and snagging during installation. The ONE Series Cat6 cable is tested and approved to exceed 550Mhz, is HDBaseT recommended, and exceeds the ANSI/TIA 568C-2.1 standard. It has been engineered to exceed the bandwidth requirements of 4K video installations for demanding high-performance applications requiring gigabit speed and full duplex transmissions. This premium shielded twisted pair (F/UTP) cable with grounding provides industry-leading protection against electromagnetic interference inherent in complex systems.
Kordz Award-Winning SlimCat Cat6/6A Networking Solutions
Paving the way to enhanced networking performance, installation simplicity and economy are Kordz’ revolutionary and multi-award-winning new PRS and PRO SlimCat Network Cable Systems.
The uniquely designed and constructed PRO series 28AWG Cat6 cable and PRS series 28AWG Cat6A cables are half the size of ordinary 23AWG and 24AWG network cable and boast a 32mm bend radius for the PRO SlimCat Cat6 cable, and 40mm bend radius for the PRS SlimCat Cat6A cable. These features streamline installation and minimize costs, especially in high-density and retrofit applications. The 4.0mm diameter PRO SlimCat Cat6 cable and 5.0mm diameter PRS SlimCat Cat6A cable enable them to reach places other cables can’t and with less compromise to a home or building’s structural and aesthetic integrity. The PRO SlimCat Cat6 and PRS SlimCat6A cable, together with matching SlimCat connectors and sockets, offer space-saving advantages in dense rack installations, and support PoE++ at 100W and data rates of 1Gbps signals up to 50 meters and 10Gbps up to 50 meters, respectively.
LightSpeed Technologies Transforms TVs into Multi-Window Displays with MV-4K-4X1 MultiView Video Processor
Future Ready Solutions showcases the LightSpeed Technologies MV-4K-4X1 MultiView Video Processor, an all-in-one solution that enables multiple streams of video to be displayed simultaneously on a large screen for an immersive viewing experience. With 4K@60Hz input and output, the LightSpeed MV-4K-4X1 MultiView Video Processor seamlessly switches between four input signals and offers various screen layouts, including Original mode, Dual-view mode, H mode, PIP mode, and Quad mode to cater to different image display preferences. Control options include buttons, an IR remote, and RS232.
New VW-4K-2X Processor from LightSpeed Technologies Simplifies HDMI Connections to Videowalls
The VW-4K-2X from LightSpeed Technologies is a compact 2X2 Video Wall Processor that simplifies HDMI connections. It supports up to a 4K@60Hz resolution and offers seamless switching between HDMI sources and outputs to enable the creation of immersive videowalls. The processor allows up to four HDMI sources to be connected in matrix switcher mode for distribution across four HDMI outputs. In videowall mode, outputs can be arranged into a 2×2 layout for a unified display. Adjustments like bezel correction and image rotation are easy to perform. The LightSpeed VW-4K-2X processor provides analog and digital S/PDIF audio for outputs 1 and 2 and offers various control options including front panel buttons, IR remote, RS232, web UI, or TCP protocols. Firmware updates via the web UI or Micro USB port ensure that the latest technologies and capabilities are supported and a user-friendly design makes HDMI management effortless. Extend the video to other displays using LightSpeed Technologies’ HDMI Fiber Optic Extender Kit. Consisting of FOX1-ENC transmitter, FOX1-DEC receiver, and power supplies, the FOX1-KIT FOX1-KIT extends 4K@60 4:4:4 HDR up to 300m (1000 feet) with multimode duplex fiber or up to 20km (12 miles) with single-mode duplex fiber. 10G multimode SFP+ modules are also included.
New Xtreme Power UPS Combines Lithium-Ion Batteries with Online Double Conversion
The Xtreme Power P91 lithium-ion UPS combines game-changing lithium-ion batteries with the advanced power protection of online double conversion technology. When compared to typical lead acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries provide more than twice the life, higher temperature tolerance, longer runtime, and faster recharge. Online double conversion technology makes the Xtreme Power P91 Li UPS ideal for protection of network, server, edge, and distributed IT applications and equipment from blackouts, brownouts, sags, surges, and noise interference. The P91 protects as it curbs energy costs and lowers heat output. Tower, rack, and wall mount options are available.
Get to know Future Ready Solutions
InfoComm 2024 attendees can see the broad range of high-performance connectivity solutions offered by Future Ready Solutions at Booth #C10157. To learn more about these systems and Future Ready Solutions, please visit www.futurereadysolutions.com.
About Future Ready Solutions
Future Ready Solutions was created to assemble the best brands in connectivity for systems integrators and installers that service the residential and commercial integration markets. Future Ready Solutions is dedicated to being a hybrid supplier that operates both as a nationally powerful representative company AND a distributor focused on high-performance connectivity solutions for the custom integration channel. Future Ready Solutions creates customized sales/distribution strategies and programs for its vendors that will optimize the sales and marketing of their products in the U.S. and help residential and commercial integration firms excel in a highly competitive systems integration market. Future Ready Solutions further demonstrates its commitment to the success of manufacturers and integrators through membership and partnership with several leading companies and associations including Azione, Prosource, CEDIA, Consumer Technology Association, D-Tools, DPL Labs, and Home Technology Association. Visit www.futurereadysolutions.com to learn more.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, or more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (425) 328-8640 or emailing [email protected].
by KMB Communications | May 17, 2024 | Leon Speakers, News
Presented in partnership with Sony, Leon’s “Sound As Art” collection demonstrates how audio can contribute to—rather than detract from—the design of the surrounding space.
[Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 15, 2024] – Leon Speakers announced today its upcoming participation at the prestigious International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City. Taking place from 5/19 to 5/21 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, ICFF serves as an ideal platform for Leon to share its innovative design-oriented audiovisual, framing, and art solutions to the global design community while leading the conversation between designers and integrators.
Leon’s Booth #563 is co-sponsored by partner Sony, who joined forces with Leon to showcase the Leon Studio Frame for Sony BRAVIA XR: a game-changing new way to transform Sony’s popular BRAVIA XR TV into a work of art.
“Our solutions have always been about merging design with technology,” said Noah Kaplan, Leon’s Founder and President. “This show represents an opportunity for us to bring AV integrators and designers together and demonstrate the power of that mindset from both sides. We hope that this collection will serve to show how audio can—and should—function as a crucial component of the design process.”
Leon will also be joined at ICFF 2024 by Mera Studio Architects, the Calgary-based architect and design firm with whom Leon has partnered on the development of the groundbreaking Mera Sound Sconce. Available now for pre-order, this highly anticipated solution represents a revolutionary fusion of high-performance sound, dimmable LED lighting, and artisan-inspired aesthetics.
In addition to the Mera Sound Sconce and Leon Studio Frame, Leon will be showcasing a diverse array of art-as-audio solutions, including the Ente SoundTile art speaker—a wall-mounted ultra-thin speaker whose grille doubles as a custom-printed work of art—and the iconic Elite moving art screen, which seamlessly reveals or conceals any TV behind a handcrafted frame and museum-quality giclée print.
Visitors to the Leon booth will explore simple solutions powered by Sonos, including the TcBar—a mounting solution designed to seamlessly incorporate an existing Sonos soundbar to match the width of the TV. Leon’s acclaimed Edge Media Frame delivers a craftsman-quality hardwood frame custom-built to the exact dimensions of any TV.
This showcase of cutting-edge AV solutions, designed to seamlessly integrate into any design, challenges both designers and integrators to go beyond the basics and toward a more comprehensive view of technology as informed by art and design.
“ICFF presents an unparalleled opportunity for us to engage with the design community and showcase the transformative power of AV in design,” adds Kaplan. “We look forward to igniting conversations, inspiring creativity, and forging meaningful connections.”
Leon invites attendees to visit their booth at ICFF 2024 to experience firsthand the harmony of design and technology, and to discover how Leon is leading the way in redefining the future of AV integration within the world of design.
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About Leon Speakers
Leon brings a creative approach to the AV industry by designing and manufacturing customizable speakers and technology concealment solutions that enhance the sound and style of any space. For over 25 years, they have been a leader in the conversation on merging design with technology, creating innovative products that serve both the Residential and Commercial markets. Learn more on their website.
All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Media Contacts
Company Contact:
Carolyn Ceccoli
Sales & Marketing Director at Leon Speakers
(734) 926-4092
[email protected]
by KMB Communications | May 13, 2024 | Daisy, News
Costa Mesa, Calif., May 10, 2024 – Daisy, the first national smart space installation and services company, needs an ongoing supply of technicians to support its industry-leading growth. To address this need, Daisy has partnered with PrepTECH to address long-standing integration industry challenges in finding and retaining talent, which has been a huge inhibitor to the expansion and prosperity of integration firms nationwide. That’s all changing thanks to Daisy the PrepTECH. Dedicated to helping its network of systems integration locations and the entire industry thrive, Daisy in partnership with PrepTECH, a systems integration-focused staffing company led by well-renowned industry veterans Helen Heneveld and Paul Starkey, has launched a comprehensive recruitment and training program to bring new entry-level talent into the field and provide a clear path for career advancement.
“At Daisy, we are always in the market for great technicians who want an exciting career with the fastest growing national player in the industry. Our partnership with PrepTECH supports Daisy’s rapid growth by streamlining the onboarding process and bringing exciting new talent with the right attitude and aptitude for our integration companies. Meanwhile, new Daisy hires have a proven pathway to success where they can grow into leadership roles and even business ownership through our unique franchise model,” remarks Daisy co-founder and CEO Hagan Kappler.
Daisy and PrepTECH officially launched the apprentice program at Daisy branches in Connecticut, California and Florida, with additional rollouts to other Daisy branches planned.
“We want to help our integration branches strategically get ahead of their staffing needs for our ongoing growth and strengthen their businesses with pre-qualified candidates who are eager to learn and expand their skillset,” Kappler says. “Newly hired Daisy employees, meanwhile, have the support of a national company dedicated to empowering and supporting them with training, certifications, and professional development.”
Daisy and PrepTECH are working together to spearhead the growth and fortification of the systems integration industry by cultivating a fresh pool of prepared junior technicians. Their proactive approach ensures the industry is equipped with capable individuals and professionals, contributing to its expansion and resilience.
“We specifically look for people outside of the industry, which helps us expand the staffing pool rather than just shift within our existing tech pool,” Starkey explains.
Through a carefully designed and curated curriculum, PrepTECH is able to bring these inexperienced yet qualified and ambitious entry-level candidates up to speed quickly and well-aligned with the Daisy culture.
“To have junior techs hit the ground running is a huge advantage to Daisy!” Kappler adds. “With seasoned home tech professionals like Helen Heneveld and Paul Starkey leading the charge at PrepTECH, we know the new Daisy hires possess all the qualities we need to help our existing branches provide the utmost service and support available to our valued clientele.”
The PrepTECH apprentice program involves multiple steps and a rigorous vetting process to determine the potential of applicants. From a personality test and critical thinking assessment to 40 hours of online training and testing, all the bases are covered and geared to ensure the best candidates for the job.
“It’s an intensive 4- to 6-week bootcamp that focuses on fundamentals,” says Heneveld. “Apprentices come away with a good working knowledge of what’s expected at the jobsite, and the processes, terminology and tools to complete basic tasks efficiently and accurately.”
Indeed, PrepTECH’s recruitment strategy is geared to present Daisy only the best, with just 3% of applicants moving on and joining the Daisy team.
After a PrepTECH candidate is qualified and trained, their profile is shared with Daisy for placement. From there, the new apprentice follows a 90-day Skills Validation Checklist to ensure they grasp daily tasks and are proficient at their work. Further, new hires are placed with a Daisy mentor for additional guidance and support as they onboard.
“To succeed and stand out as integrators we need to provide our clients with personalized, ongoing, and real time support, all of which require a team of well-trained, friendly, customer-focused technicians,’ says Matt Walin, new Daisy branch owner. “For the first time, through Daisy’s unique apprentice program, we’re finally able to make inroads.”
To learn more about Daisy’s franchising opportunity or apply to be a Daisy franchise, applicants can visit daisyco.com/franchising and existing integrators can head to daisyco.com/conversions. To learn more about PrepTECH and its apprentice programs, go to https://preptech.com/content/Default.aspx
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About Daisy
Daisy is a national smart space installation and services company that simplifies smart home and office technology to make it work and perform optimally for its users, solving one of the biggest in-home problems today and bringing more joy into the home and office. For more information on becoming a Daisy-certified technician or to register as a future business partner, franchisee, or customer, please visit daisyco.com.
About PrepTECH
PrepTECH is an end-to-end new talent source and workforce retention resource company serving the custom integration industry. For more information or to register for the PrepTECH PRIME community, please visit preptech.com.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, or more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (425) 328-8640 or emailing [email protected].
by KMB Communications | May 8, 2024 | Magnetar Audio, News
Demonstrated at two exhibits at internationally renowned high-end audio show, Blu-ray Disc players from Magnetar Audio elevate the entertainment experience by blending nostalgia with cutting-edge AV technology.
(May 8, 2024) Magnetar Audio is elevating the home entertainment experience with the introduction of a new breed of high-end Blu-ray Disc player. Engineered to play many forms of physical media with all the realism, clarity and sharpness professional audio experts and AV enthusiasts expect from today’s high-end home AV systems. Showcase at several exhibits at High-End Munich, Magnetar’s flagship, reference-grade UPD900 represents a compelling new way to enjoy old and new Blu-ray discs, as well as DVDs, 4K UHD discs and media files. By seamlessly uniting classic media with state-of-the-art technologies, Magnetar Audio is resurrecting a market one thought dead and driving demand for newer, more capable Blu-ray Disc players.
High-End 2024 attendees can witness the exceptional versatility and performance of this game-changing AV component May 9-12, in Munich, at several individual exhibits: at the Magnetar Audio booth #M15, Pure Audio booth #H3, M07, and SVS booth #H3, P02/R03.
With the introduction of the Magnetar UPD800 and more advanced UPD900, collectors have a great reason to bring their collections out of storage and back to the center stage. “Physical media [still] resonates strongly with consumers and the market is growing exponentially,” says Raphael Tabutin, CEO of Let’s Get Physical, Magnetar Audio’s exclusive distributor of the new Blu-ray Disc players. “Unlike streaming media, physical media conjures an emotional connection to the content and pride of ownership. The content consumers purchase is to enjoy whenever and however, they want.”
Magnetar Blu-ray Disc players feature advanced imaging decoding and processing technology, including 4K upscaling of low-resolution media; 4K Ultra HD and HDR support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+; and Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos and DTSX. The inclusion of premium Digital Analog Converters further enhances audio playback. IP and RS-232 drivers enable seamless integration of prominent third-party control systems, including Crestron and Control4, and others. The UPD900’s user interface represents a significant improvement over the rudimentary controls of Blu-ray Disc players of the past, as well. On-screen navigation is smooth and intuitive, and allows easy access to various settings and local USB devices and networks.
The Magnetar UPD800 and UPD900 Blu-ray Disc players are available to systems integrators and consumers from Let’s Get Physical Distribution. To learn more about Magnetar Audio and the technology and features of its premium multi-format Blu-ray Disc players, please visit www.letsget-physical.com.
About Magnetar Audio
Founded in 2021 after more than 20 years manufacturing high-end DVD and Blu-ray Disc players for prestigious brands. Their goal is to produce the best multi-format physical media players in the world for video and music lovers to enjoy without any compromise for quality and design.
About Let’s Get Physical Distribution Inc.
Founded in late 2022 by Raphael Tabutin, an AV enthusiast with 20 years of experience in home theater installation and consulting, Let’s Get Physical Distribution, Inc. offers a best-in-class portfolio of products capable of reproducing the Director’s intent on screens. Their portfolio now includes Magnetar (Blu-ray Disc Players), Reavon (Blu-ray Disc Players), R-volution (Media Players) and Bridgee Cables (High-End Audio/Video Cables).
by KMB Communications | May 2, 2024 | News, Nexus 21
Certainly, TVs are getting slimmer and lighter, but there are still plenty of applications that require a heavy-duty lift to carry beefier models. Outdoor entertainment areas where TVs need to pop-up from inside a cabinet often require a lift with enough power to move weighty enclosure tops and TV/soundbar combos. For this reason, Nexus 21 developed its DL-65 Series, a complete line of motorized pop-up lifts for use in covered outdoor settings.
ISE 2024 attendees will be the first to see the newest member of the DL-65 Series, the DL-65x. It combines the same powerful dual motors, quiet lift technology, and installation ease as earlier models, with the addition of a newly developed extra-weight swivel mechanism. This feature, which mechanically swivels a display to a preferred position, increases the weight capacity from 45kg (100 lbs) to 79kg (175 lbs) and can extend up to 97.7 cm (38.5”). The inclusion of sleek actuator technology ensures no visible tracks or gears in the extended position.
Other models in the new DL extra-weight, pop-up series include the DL-65en and DL-65ens, which are designed for the inclusion of custom cabinetry to cover the back and sides of the TV. The DL-65en elevates a TV but with no swiveling action; the DL-65ens elevates a TV and swivels it manually.
