ANALYSIS: SMART HOME & CUSTOM INSTALL Home Entertainment
control the TV’s settings, such as volume or media playback, and even ask for recommendations on what to watch.” Additionally, the new Sony SRSRA5000
Mitchell & Brown
(bottom right) and SRS-RA3000 wireless home speakers offer great room-filling sound plus instant access to audio streaming services via the Spotify Connect app, or users can stream their preferred music, online radio and podcasts thanks to Chromecast built-in. Lucy Gaby, Video and Sound Product
24 For example, the new BRAVIA XR TVs
from Sony have Google Assistant built-in and are compatible with Amazon Alexa- enabled devices as well as Apple HomeKit, allowing users to control their other smart devices, such as home lighting and speakers, through their voice. “The new BRAVIA XR range makes life
smart and simple for users,” says Nick Roos, Sony’s Product Communications Manager TV, UK and Ireland. Through voice alone, consumers can search for a specific movie or series and open streaming apps [top left]. They can also
Demonstration
Andrew Hazell is Managing Director of Gloucester-based audio visual retailer and supplier, Smart Home Sounds; he started selling Sonos products in 2011, but he tells ERT that over the past 12 months he has seen many more customers investing in their home audio setups – alongside a big resurgence in turntables and garden audio. “The focus has been more on creating
an enjoyable experience at home for music and movie lovers,” he says. “Smart speakers in particular are our best selling products. Over the last 18 months we have seen a massive growth in popularity with increasingly more people creating smart speaker ecosystems around the home. “It is important for customers to demo
and compare products in store, but the pandemic has shown how important online assets such as video content can be in
Communications Manager, Sony UK and Ireland, adds that both speakers can easily be added to a speaker group in the Google Home app to provide consumers with a multi-room experience. “Users will then be able to play different
songs in different rooms, or the same music throughout their home, using the app or via their Assistant speaker,” she explains. “With just their voice, users can start or stop music, adjust the volume and other actions – all hands-free.” And if we consider personal audio for a
moment, even headphones are becoming smarter nowadays. Sony’s WH-1000XM4 noise cancellation headphones – compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa – integrate voice control technology through the Speak-to-Chat function using five microphones and advanced audio signal processing to recognise and react to the user’s voice. It stops the music when they have a conversation and automatically plays again when their chat is over.
helping customers choose the right products for them. The feedback we have received from customers telling us videos and blogs have helped them choose a suitable product for them has been fantastic.” The product demo area at Smart Home
Sounds (bottom right) is simplified by a control system where the customer engages with an iPad to give them a full tour of the products alongside a listening experience and demonstration. This also
June 2021
ertonline.co.uk
When creating the perfect home
entertainment set-up, it’s important to ensure that the consumer’s AV and tech products are correctly installed. Mr Roos explains that Sony ensures all its retailers’ install teams are fully supported with dedicated training, and for customers with more unique setups, the company provides advice and guidance on the best features to be included in their system and CAD drawings to help plan out their ideal home theatre setup. As the smart TV concept matures, there
will be an ever-growing raft of features on which to up-sell customers on the benefits of a connected TV. Looking ahead, Mr Brown says that at least 85 per cent of new Mitchell & Brown TV models will be smart by next year (currently he estimates it’s around 75 per cent). “At some point all new TVs will be
network enabled and offer smart features, and you don’t need a crystal ball to see that time is not too far away,” he goes on. “I think terrestrial TV will remain around for a while, but as broadcasters invest more heavily in network-based content and features, there may come a time when selling-off
the
DTV broadcast spectrum to other industries might make a lot of commercial sense.”
allows customers to browse at their own pace and ask for assistance if required, explains Mr Hazell. “By doing this, customers can visualise
how these products will work within their own home and their day-to-day life. And when it comes to product installation, we recognise the need for a service our customers can trust. We are building a Smart Home Sounds-approved installer network over the next year, so watch this space!”
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