September 2009
Contents
1 Publisher’s statement 30 Room acoustics
CI Publisher Brad Francis unveils the new-look
American company Rives Audio has an acoustic
magazine and discusses how installers are weathering
problem-solving package configured for profit and 4
the economic storm
performance
4 Industry news
This month: CEDIA Expo is to return to ExCeL in 2010,
32 Cabling and connectors
Cytech Europe is to host Irish training courses and
When the reliability of an install can be made or
Lutron takes its blinds to the catwalk broken on the quality of its cabling, the selection
process can be a tricky one. CI shows you some of
8 Product news
the newest innovations in the field
Latest news on yet-to-be released products such as
the new three-chip Epson projectors and equipment
36 Home cinema products
from top manufacturers including Monitor, Pioneer
and Runco
CI explores how installers can create an all-singing
and dancing home cinema when faced with a
11 The age of convergence
communal lounge environment
Colin Clarke, senior technical sales and support
manager at Bright Space Technologies discusses how
39 Hotel AV
the convergence of custom installation and ICT can
In this lucrative sector many installation companies
8
help installers to create better smart homes
are jumping at the chance to win big contracts and CI
13 Tech Talk
is lucky enough to see the final results
Kevin Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of Hydravision,
examines the potential of the digital signage market
42 Retrofitting and renovation
for custom installers
CI takes a look at the art of retrofitting a property,
led by an install that was highly commended in
14 The showcase the Best Integrated Home £100,000 - £250,000
Smartcomm’s Charters project in Sunninghill, Berkshire category at last year’s CEDIA awards
which won Best Multi-Dwelling Installation at the
2009 CEDIA Awards
44 CEDIA Media
16 Music and video servers
Fraser Stride, CEDIA’s outreach chair, looks back on
Legal rulings involving copyright laws surrounding the
a year of outreach initiatives and outlines the future
ripping of films is hindering the media servers’ sector
activities that will build on this success
with new revelations in an American lawsuit involving
14
Kaleidescape, as CI finds out 46 Dave Slater
19 In-wall and ceiling speakers
DSE’s Dave Slater explains how to get home cinema
sound levels just right
CI asks the top players in the in-wall and ceiling
speaker market why there is money to be made in
50 The problem with HDMI
installing such products
Following the success of the recent Crestron Summer
22 Crestron House
Open Day, CI looks at the trials and tribulations
The first in a step-by-step series with commentary on
that HDMI has caused in the industry and more
first-fitting in a modern new-build property importantly, the new technology that is aiming to
solve them.
25 CCTV and access control
CI takes a look at some of the most effective 53 Next issue
security systems on the market
Lighting and blinds, brackets and racking and wired and
28 AV receivers and amplifiers
wireless networking go under the microscope
30
In the last month there have been some exciting new
launches in the AV receivers and amplifiers sector
54 Training diary
aimed at improving the versatility of earlier models.
CI delves in for a closer look 55 Address book
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Amanda Roberts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .amanda-roberts@btconnect.com
MANAGING DIRECTOR Phil Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rephotopublishingltd@btinternet.com
PUBLISHER Brad Francis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . brad.francis@rephotopublishing.co.uk
STAFF WRITER Nicholas Clancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . nicholas.clancy@rephotopublishing.co.uk
STAFF WRITER Craig Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . craig.evans@rephotopublishing.co.uk
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION John Gingell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . john@buffalomedia.co.uk
ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR Sylvie Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sylvie.rpl@btinternet.com
Rephoto Publishing Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for advertising that appears in
the magazine and the views stated editorially may not necessarily represent the views
of the publishers. All articles are copyright remain the property of Custom Installer. 36
www.custominstaller.co.uk Custom Installer 3
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