by KMB Communications | Mar 22, 2024 | Leon Speakers, News
The winning installations marry form and function through impressively integrated custom AV solutions from Leon’s extensive product portfolio
[Ann Arbor, MI] – March 21, 2024 – Known for its innovative speaker and technology concealment products, Leon Speakers celebrates some of the most stunning applications of its design-forward AV solutions in its 2023 Install of the Year Contest. Thirteen installations, each featuring a specific Leon product, were chosen as award winners.
From contemporary family rooms to office conference rooms to well-appointed dealer showrooms, the winning installations marry form and function through impressively integrated custom AV solutions from Leon’s extensive product portfolio. The winning projects were chosen from a large pool of over 40 candidates submitted by integrators across the country. Many were the result of direct collaboration with architects, interior designers, and end users who found Leon’s custom, design-oriented options were a perfect fit for their style visions.
“It’s exciting and inspiring to see how integrators are utilizing our products and the high level of ingenuity and craftsmanship they’re applying to beautifully fuse a range of Leon AV solutions into a wide variety of environments,” said Noah Kaplan, owner and founder of Leon Speakers. “These stunning installations remind us of the key role integrators play in Leon’s success and demonstrate to those in the AV, interior design, and architecture industries how technology and design can co-exist gracefully in luxury home and commercial settings.”
Each winner will be awarded a Leon account credit, a surprise gift box, and featured posts across Leon’s social media. Photos of each winning install, alongside quotes from each installer, are now available on Leon’s website.
Winners of the Leon Install of the Year Contest 2023
Best Edge Media Frame – Media Innovation
Best Edge Frame for Sonos – Premiere Systems Design
Best FrameBars – Solutions Audio/Video & Technology, Creative Audio Works
Best TV Audio – Barrett’s Technology Solutions
Best Media Decor – Advanced ESI
Best Sonos Solution – Mark Electronics
Best Whole Homes / Multi-Product – Intelligent Design, Sync Systems Inc
Best Dealer Showroom – World Wide Stereo
Best Video Conferencing Solution – River Systems
Best Commercial Custom Solution – Coltrane Systems
Best Scaled Commercial Solution – The Premier Group
About Leon Speakers
Leon brings a creative approach to technology by designing and manufacturing customizable speakers and technology concealment solutions that enhance the sound and style of any space. For 25 years, the company has been a leader in the conversation about merging design with technology, creating innovative products that serve both the Residential and Commercial markets. Learn more by visiting www.leonspeakers.com and by following @leonspeakers on social media.
Media Contacts
Press Contact: Katye (McGregor) Bennett
KMB Communications
(425) 328-8640
[email protected]
Company Contact: Carolyn Ceccoli
Sales & Marketing Director at Leon Speakers
(734) 926-4092
[email protected]
by KMB Communications | Feb 20, 2024 | News, RoseWater Energy
Systems integrators attending Lightapalooza, Feb. 26-29, can learn how to develop, sell, and execute an inclusive “Power Plan” to improve the performance of clients’ lighting systems and other connected devices.
PLANTATION, FL – February 20, 2024 – RoseWater Energy, a leader for more than a decade in advanced, professionally installed power conditioning, energy management and storage systems for luxury homes, will lead several educational sessions and panel discussions at Lightapalooza 2024, held Feb. 26-29 in Phoenix. RoseWater Energy CEO and managing director Joe Piccirilli will present a wealth of information to systems integrators eager to capitalize on this quickly growing market. Courses will cover the fundamentals of electrical power, the importance of clean, conditioned power to the performance of a home’s electronic systems, and how to develop and execute a proper and profitable “Power Plan.”
“Clean, reliable, stable power is essential for optimal performance and longevity of every electronic component in a home,” says Piccirilli. “Given the countless spikes, sags, and other problems that feed into a home’s electrical panel via incoming power lines, the best way for systems integrators to protect their clients’ tech investments is by including a comprehensive power management solution in every luxury home project.”
Integrators attending power-related courses at Lightapalooza will learn the basics of electricity and the impact of unconditioned, unprotected power on their projects, the right way to incorporate power management systems into homes, and how power solutions can broaden their scope of business and build additional revenue.
Lightapalooza attendees can also see a complete power management system in action by visiting the RoseWater Energy exhibit on the Lightapalooza show floor. “We want to give systems integrators a thorough education on power, and this means also showing them the necessary components of a full power management solution,” Piccirilli continues. “Lightapalooza attendees who stop by can see how our award-winning Energy Hub integrates with a home’s electrical panel and third-party systems, what makes it different from other options, and how as an authorized dealer they can take advantage of our complete, white-glove design and installation service and support.”
Power and Controls courses will be held at several different times throughout the 3-day Lightapalooza event to give attendees ample opportunity to work them into their schedules. Most courses are free with a Lightapalooza registration and last one hour.
Course Descriptions:
Electricity and Power: What you need to know about power but were afraid to ask
Attendees will gain a fundamental understanding of how electricity enters a home, is distributed, and affects equipment, and walk away with a better basic understanding of the state of power today, how to address the issues, and make money doing it.
How to Plan and Sell Power: a hands-on real-world workshop
Learn why you need a “Power Plan” and how to develop and execute one. Work through a real-world project to see how a Power Plan can assure greater success.
The Energy Category: A guided discussion about the future of our business
A guided open discussion led by several industry leaders in the power category offers attendees a chance to ask questions and get answers from experts in the field. Panelists will provide valuable insights on the key players in the power industry and how dealers can make power the most profitable part of their business.
To see the complete Lightapalooza schedule, and register for Power and Controls education sessions, please go to https://lightapalooza.com/.
About RoseWater Energy
RoseWater Energy understands that Power is the Foundation® for any smart home. The company designs and manufactures a complete solution providing both power conditioning and consistent energy, as well as surge and lightning protection for the main power source, solar input, and battery backup, along with analytics and remote monitoring in a redundant industrial-grade system made for large, high-end residences and commercial environments.
Committed to building Simply the Best® energy management system on the market, RoseWater Energy Hubs work 24/7 and are always providing clean power in any situation – including during normal grid operation as well as grid spikes, surges, brownouts, or power outages. RoseWater Hubs are built with full power conditioning functionality and zero-transfer-times between power sources. These unique features enable technology integration professionals to reduce or eliminate a plethora of unnecessary and expensive client service calls due to power issues and instead, provide peace of mind. White-glove support ensures a successful outcome. RoseWater will work with authorized integration firms to help design, build, integrate, and manage a custom Power Plan™ specific to the needs of each project. For more details visit www.rosewaterenergy.com.
RoseWater Energy Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye McGregor Bennett of KMB Communications at (425) 328-8640 or [email protected].
by KMB Communications | Feb 15, 2024 | Magnetar Audio, News
Supporting multiple media formats and delivering exceptional sound and imagery, Blu-ray Disc players from Magnetar Audio poised to revive collectors’ treasured disc collections and the physical media market.
(February 14, 2024) Magnetar Audio is helping consumers establish a new love for physical media and enabling concert fans and movie buffs to reconnect with their beloved Blu-ray Disc collections with the introduction of two new, high-end Blu-ray Disc players. Filling a void in the marketplace, Magnetar Blu-ray Disc players serve two distinct markets, those who already have a significant investment in their Blu-ray Disc collection and those who appreciate the clarity, sharpness, and realism Blu-ray Disc content can provide as part of their high-end home entertainment systems. 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 center stage. This new breed of Blu-ray Disc player will be available to home technology integration pros in the U.S. exclusively by Let’s Get Physical Distribution.
“Physical media [still] resonates strongly with consumers and the market is growing exponentially,” says Raphael Tabutin, Let’s Get Physical Distribution CEO. Not convinced? The physical media movie market is estimated at more than $2 billion, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, and increasingly, studios and filmmakers are releasing next-generation high-resolution DVDs to enjoy at home.
Private collections of Blu-ray Discs are also quite sizeable. “We estimate the average Blu-ray Disc collector owns at least 1,000 titles says Raphael Tabutin. This growing niche market needs Blu-ray Disc players to not only replace those that no longer function but also to support the growing high-res audio and video community. “Our UPD800 and UPD900 players have been designed and engineered specifically to fulfill the needs of those who appreciate how Blu-ray Discs deliver vivid images and brilliant sound combined with the ease of controlling what one watches when one wants to watch it,” he continues.
Following in Vinyl’s Footsteps
Despite the popularity of streaming media, over the past few years, vinyl records have made a remarkable revival. Magnetar sees similar consumer interest increasing for Blu-ray Discs but options available were limited. “Advancements in Blu-ray Disc players came to a halt as streaming media gained ground. Players quickly became antiquated, and many brands exited the category,” Raphael explains. “Still, just like vinyl, Blu-ray Discs have a loyal following and their owners want nothing more than to spin them again, albeit with better quality.”
Many also attribute a renewed appreciation of physical media to Disney™ movies that families continue to collect and the wide range of artists who are releasing new music on not only streaming platforms but also vinyl, Blu-Ray Disc, DVD, and CD. Gear News reports that over 40 million vinyl records were sold in 2022 and that the trend continued with more than 2 million units sold per week in December of 2023, citing Taylor Swift as a big driver of sales. Swift, however, is but one of many artists that are drawing significant numbers of music lovers to physical media, and many bands have released concerts and related footage this way over the years. Magnetar Audio strives to serve not only new fans of physical media but also those who have a love of the heightened experience felt with Blu-ray Disc content.
With the help of their exclusive U.S. distributor, Let’s Get Physical Distribution, Magnetar Audio provides music and movie lovers complete control and ownership of the content they purchase. Raphael adds, “Streaming media providers choose what you should be watching and own the content. It’s the opposite with Blu-ray-Disc-based-entertainment. The content you buy is yours to enjoy whenever, however, you want to. It’s a much simpler approach, which is a very attractive proposition to many people.”
Sparking a Blu-ray Rebirth with State-of-the-Art Technologies
Magnetar Blu-ray Disc players combine nostalgia, pride of ownership, and greater control over the entertainment experience with a rich array of state-of-the-art features. The UPD800 and UPD900 models available now produce sharp, vibrant images and uncompromised crystal-clear, immersive audio from both old and new Blu-ray Disc releases, as well as DVDs, 4K UHD discs, and media files. SACD players will soon join the lineup.
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.
“From the moment the Magnetar player was unboxed, we were struck by its build quality and straightforward, yet elegant design. Set-up and control are easy via a simple, intuitive GUI, and the 4K output of on our 155-inch demo screen is outstanding,” says John Grevan, CEO of Home Theater Sales, Inc., of Flossmoor, IL.
“The versatility of the available audio outputs accommodates the most demanding systems. The Magnetar player is destined to take the crown as king of multi-format media players.”
The Magnetar UPD800 and UPD900 Blu-ray Disc players are available to systems integrators 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 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).
About Magnetar Audio
Founded in 2021 after more than 20 years in 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.
by KMB Communications | Feb 7, 2024 | News, RoseWater Energy
New rep firms chosen for having a strong dealer base and dedication to providing customers with exceptional power protection and storage solutions to growing electrical grid-related problems in Florida, Arizona, and Southern Nevada.
PLANTATION, FL – February 7, 2024 – RoseWater Energy, a leader in advanced, professionally installed power conditioning, energy management and storage systems for luxury homes for more than a decade, continues to expand awareness and adoption of its solutions with the addition of two reputable manufacturer’s rep firms. LK & Associates Inc. and Innovative Consulting & Marketing will now carry and distribute RoseWater’s advanced Energy Hubs to their dealer customers in Florida, and Arizona and Southern Nevada, respectively.
These areas of the country are particularly prone to power-related problems; authorized dealers serving luxury homeowners in these markets now have convenient access to complete energy management solutions that combine the delivery of clean and conditioned power to all electronic devices and systems in a home, along with surge protection, solar battery storage, battery backup with remote monitoring, and redundant industrial-grade systems. The manufacturer’s rep firms will also provide their dealer partners access to complete design and installation service and support via RoseWater’s industry-leading white-glove commissioning and delivery.
“LK & Associates and Innovative Consulting & Marketing possess all the qualities we look for in premier representatives of our innovative power management systems. They each have a strong reputation and passion for new, up-and-coming technologies like power management and recognize the performance and revenue advantages of our solutions,” says RoseWater CEO and managing director Joe Piccirilli. “Having dealt with escalating power-related issues in their respective markets for several years, they understand the necessity for solutions like our Energy Hubs to deliver clean, reliable power to every connected electronic system while protecting them from spikes, surges, and other anomalies on the power grid. ‘Power is the Foundation’ of a home’s comfort, convenience, and efficiency. By aligning with rep firms like LK & Associates and Innovative Consulting & Marketing, we can push this core message and our solutions to customers who know what it’s like to live with unreliable, unstable electricity and are ready to do something about it.”
Adds Seth Kaplan, principal of LK & Associates, “Like RoseWater, we believe consumers have a much better appreciation for the role power plays and are eager to learn how to protect their tech investments. The key to future and profitable business for all our dealer partners is the reliability of their jobs for their clients. Power is a major reliability factor, and RoseWater transforms this challenging variable into a positive and helps dealers add value and differentiate themselves.”
Patrick Boyer, principal at Innovative Consulting & Marketing echoes this sentiment. “RoseWater is a thought-leader in the energy management space and more of our dealers are looking to expand their energy offerings. Innovative prides itself on a consultive sales process and we feel that RoseWater is a natural fit with our style of representation. Coupling RoseWater with our other industry-leading brands will be beneficial for everyone in the value chain from the manufacturer all the way to the end user.”
To discover more about RoseWater Energy, its philosophy, and how its technology and products enable better power delivery and energy management across an entire home, visit www.rosewaterenergy.com. Integrators can contact https://www.innovativeconsult.com/ and https://lka-fl.com/ to find their designated RoseWater rep.
About RoseWater Energy
RoseWater Energy understands that Power is the Foundation® for any smart home. The company designs and manufactures a complete solution providing both power conditioning and consistent energy, as well as surge and lightning protection for the main power source, solar input, and battery backup, along with analytics and remote monitoring in a redundant industrial-grade system made for large, high-end residences and commercial environments.
Committed to building Simply the Best® energy management system on the market, RoseWater Energy Hubs work 24/7 and are always providing clean power in any situation – including during normal grid operation as well as grid spikes, surges, brownouts, or power outages. RoseWater Hubs are built with full power conditioning functionality and zero transfer times between power sources. These unique features enable technology integration professionals to reduce or eliminate a plethora of unnecessary and expensive client service calls due to power issues and instead, provide peace of mind. White-glove support ensures a successful outcome. RoseWater will work with authorized integration firms to help design, build, integrate, and manage a custom Power Plan™ specific to the needs of each project. For more details visit www.rosewaterenergy.com and subscribe to the RoseWater Energy YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@RoseWaterEnergy for valuable insights and to stay up to date on the latest energy management advancements.
RoseWater Energy Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye McGregor Bennett of KMB Communications at (425) 328-8640 or [email protected].
by KMB Communications | Feb 6, 2024 | Kordz, News
It takes a special breed of person to become a CEDIA Fellow—passion for an industry that tends to be a moving target, a knack for speaking the language of many types of contractors (integrators, designers, architects etc.), bravery for exploring new avenues of innovation, and an innate business sense of where the market is heading and how to align with those changes. James Chen, managing director at Kordz, embodies all of these attributes …. and more. Here, James shares a personal glimpse of the experiences that paved the way to a career in the cabling business and the remarkable impact he sees cabling having on the future of technology.
Q: Have you always had an interest in AV? Was there something in your upbringing that influenced your interest in it?
James Chen: My father was a chemical engineer and fostered in me a knack for maths, physics and science. My mother, an opera singer, encouraged me to study music and the arts from an early age, which helped me develop a keen ear. Together, these early influences contributed to an interest in AV systems. One of my first jobs as a young adult, at Carlton Audio Visual, gave me a chance to experiment with AV gear, which instilled an appreciation for quality audio equipment.
Q: What compelled you to get into AV and later to help pioneer a new generation of cabling?
JC: I think every good story and piece of music deserves to be told and reproduced honestly and truthfully, and as I learned at Carlton Audio Visual, without good cabling a great story can lose impact. Plus, I had experienced my fair share of frustrations dealing with rigid cabling, loose connectors and the many other challenges of AV integration. I discovered better cabling could minimise loss and maintain the signal chain and knew I could drive true innovation in this area. When I was offered a job at Kordz, this was my chance to develop a new generation of cabling—a solution that could both preserve the integrity of audio signals and simplify installation.
(pull quote) Cables are the arteries of any system, and yet their importance is often eclipsed by shiny boxes. They are the longest part of the connectivity chain and vital to ensuring security and reliability. Without quality cables, nothing works. No power, no signal. This is the basis of Kordz’ product engineering.” James Chen, Managing Director, Kordz
Q: What fundamentally excites you about the AV business and the cabling business?
JC: The AV industry is dynamic and in a state of constant evolution. Although that’s exciting, the fast pace can lead to confusion around the choice and installation of products. By working with AV-focused organizations like CEDIA and continually striving to provide the integration community with the best-quality cabling possible, Kordz is providing systems technicians with the clarity and connectivity required to confidently and successfully deploy reliable, long-lasting, high-performance cabling infrastructures.
Q: How does your enthusiasm and dedication to the success of your integration partners reflect in Kordz’ business strategies and the design and manufacture of its cabling solutions?
JC: Quality cable backed by a quality installation sets the rock-solid foundation homes and businesses need to stand the test of time and stay ahead of the technological curve. While some technologies come and go, with the right cabling backbone, a building can handle the connectivity needs of anything that comes its way for decades to come. At Kordz, as former experienced integrators we understand the inherent limitations of Wi-Fi as a networking solution, we recognise the differences between mediocre and high-performance cabling, and we know what it takes to execute a solid, reliable networking foundation because we’ve been there. We’ve applied what we’ve learned, what we know, and what we believe into the Kordz product line.
Q: Can you relay a few experiences in the field that helped shape Kordz’ business philosophies, manufacturing processes and marketing strategies?
JC: Let’s face it, there are way too many cable brands, many of which emphasise somewhat esoteric advantages: visual appeal, product selection, price, or somewhat unscientific or unmeasurable performance. It can be difficult as a professional to find reliable and trustworthy brands that know what you want and have done the legwork to make exactly what you need, so you don’t have to overthink it. What’s been missing is a focus on professional-grade quality and performance, which presented an opportunity for Kordz. So I thought, what if we could make cabling products that worked every time and with very specific scientific and measurable outcomes?
First, Kordz products undergo comprehensive, detailed testing to meet a minimum measurable and guaranteed performance level. Next, there’s certification—bandwidth capacity, fire resistance and compliance with the latest industry standards, to name a few. Materials make a difference too, so resilience, durability, flexibility, purity and pull tolerance are part of the cabling composition.
At Kordz, we also insist on using advanced manufacturing techniques and high-grade machinery. We balance our machines to prevent vibration inconsistencies and ensure tooling accuracy and cycle rates. Additionally, we employ infrared soldering to ensure low heat, equal and repeatable joins and specialised vacuums to remove excess solder. These things all really matter for consistently high quality.
Packaging is another area we continually evaluate, asking ourselves what systems technicians need on the packaging and what it should be made of to lower waste but improve inventory control.
Q: What are key drivers (the market, emerging technologies etc.) in the systems integration industry today, and how does cabling play a role?
JC: We are at the cusp of massive increases in data load. This stems not just from increased resolution and frame rate or colour depth, but also from a huge increase in the sheer number of devices and sensors. AGI, Blockchain and more complex timed security protocols will further intensify demand with short response times. With the requirements for instant or fast reaction times and the massive increase in consumption, cables are definitely here to stay, and actually, more important than ever to keep our modern world turning.
The electrical grid is also becoming more prevalent in cabling discussions. More devices, consuming more power, require more cabling and more power to run them.
Q: What does 2024 hold in store for cabling and what do manufacturers, suppliers and systems technicians need to do to stay a step ahead?
JC: My advice is that if you think you need it, put it in. If you don’t think you need it, put it in anyway, especially in all the hard-to-reach places. Cabling doesn’t cost a lot to install during framing but it costs time, money, hassle and many swear words afterwards from both the person retrofitting it and the person paying for it. The AV industry is on a precipice of monumental change, where the lines of technology and reality blur into one. This watershed moment can only happen when the technology is supported by a robust and reliable cabling infrastructure and connectivity. One that anticipates and transcends the many interoperability challenges bound to arise.
I am excited to be able to participate at this level of immersive connectivity. There is a lot to do and contribute during this pivotal time in our evolution.
To learn more about Kordz and its broad range of industry-leading and award-winning connectivity solutions, please check out our range.
For more industry insights from James Chen on technology, design and their human interface, follow him on LinkedIn.
(sidebar Tips for Systems Technicians)
Q: What do you think needs to happen to draw attention to the importance of cabling – more education and training, better manufacturing processes, small changes in the design that make a big difference?
JC: Better education about the importance of high-quality cabling to the performance of emerging technologies will help technicians on the job. So, too, will learning from experience. When projects go wrong, it helps technicians identify the specific limitations of poor-quality cabling and motivates them to understand the science and look for better solutions. The quest for greater connectivity reliability is also driving demand for proper infrastructures that are well engineered, certified and capable of supporting the growing number of connected devices.
“It’s about working smarter, not harder, and doing things right the first time, so they last the test of time.” – James Chen
Q: What are some ways technicians can do a better job of promoting the importance of cabling to their customers and how can manufacturers help them drive greater appreciation and understanding among their clientele?
JC: Technicians need to partner with a cable supplier that knows what they’re talking about and supports them with great products and guidance – not only about installation best practice but also how to prepare their businesses for technological advancements. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and doing things right the first time, so they last the test of time. At Kordz, we are continually working on bringing out tools and handy reference information that makes this easier for our customers.
