I have always been a firm believer in power protection for electronics and yesterday the significance of really good protection made an obvious appearance in my own home theater setup. I grabbed the remote control to turn it on and nothing happened! I thought maybe a breaker had tripped on my electrical panel. I checked and all the breakers were ok. I next checked the Monster Cable surge protected power bar that I had installed 11 years ago. I had changed televisions twice and source equipment a number of times and plugged it all into this power bar. Well, it finally died, and, I’m glad it did!
I replaced the dead power bar with a new Panamax power center with surge protection and power line filtering and the results were astounding! The picture quality on my 55″ plasma set took on a new dimension of depth and clarity that I had not seen before! The picture was rock solid with absolutely no discernable noise in the image. My TV set is a V series Panasonic and I am now kicking myself for not seeing how good that it could be by simply improving my power protection!
Now, the deterioration of the old Monster Cable power bar may have happened over time (as they do wear out with age) but I never would have noticed the difference if the old power bar had not failed completely.
So, to make sure your system is working the way it was designed to give us a shout at Wired 1 Consulting you’ll be glad you did! I know I was!!
How to improve the performance of your electronics.
Curve screen installation
While the advantages of a curved screen set are debatable, one of the challenges is how to mount one professionally on your wall! This is definitely one to call in the professionals at Wired 1 Consulting!
This 65″ UHD Samsung was installed using a Sanus Bracket that allows the screen to be pulled out from the wall and aimed to the seating position. This is imperative with a curved screen set as the best viewing location is directly in front of the set. The Sanus wall mount also allows a sound bar to be mounted directly below the screen so any repositioning of the screen also aims the speaker as well.
Give us a call today! (506)470-7510
Related Images:
Streaming Music In Your Home!
What to use for a distributed audio system is an important decision these days. If you love music the ability to have your music flow with you everywhere in your home, out on the patio and pool, is important when you are building or renovating your home. The wrong choice can be a decision that you may have to live with for a very long time so making the right decision as to what devices to use is of paramount importance.
Wireless technologies for audio distribution have been around now for quite some time, but what is the best choice?
The quality of your digital source material is the most important factor in determining the quality of your whole home audio. If your music collection is encoded in MP3 format at bit rates lower than 320 mega bits per second the music that your hear is going to be a pale comparison of the original recording. In the early days of digital audio recording storage space was very expensive, but today digital storage is cheap, I can remember buying the first thumb drive storage devices for over $200 and only getting 256 Mb of storage. That $200 today can buy you upwards of 2 Terra Bytes of storage! So, you want to use the highest sample rate you can for your music if you want to use MP3. The advantage of MP3 is that it is almost universally readable by digital music players no matter what manufacturer you use, they will play on Apples, PC’s and Android devices. The downside is that MP3 is what is called “lossy” compression. What this means is that the compression algorithm (the recorder, for simplicity, throws away, or “loses” information from the original music that it doesn’t think that we can hear)! Thus the term “lossy” or lost format – once this information is gone you can’t get it back again – PERIOD. A far better way to record digitally is by using “lossless” technologies. Now these are much bigger files because they haven’t thrown any of the original music away, they simply compress the file to make it easier to manage. The most popular of these file formats is FLAC but other formats are out there, like Apple AAC lossless, Monkey Audio etc. However, these lossless formats still rely on how well the original recording was made, and guess what, CD is not a great digital recorder! And here’s why… When Compact Disc was developed, jointly by Sony and Phillips, the major consideration was that they wanted a disc that would easily fit in a small portable player (anyone remember the Sony Discman?) and the dashboard of a car. Audiophiles wanted a 12″ disc, so more digital information could be stored on them. Alas, Sony/Phillips won and the result is what we have today, a fuzzy picture of a beautiful thing! Rejoice! CD’s are not the end of the digital music story. When CD was developed good quality digital recorders were either non-existent or ridiculously expensive, so a compromised system was used to record the CD. Compact discs were, and still are, recorded in 16 bit (the length of the digital sentence) and 44.1Khz rate (how many snapshots of the original analog signal are taken every second). The other thing that CD does is cut off the frequency response (the bass and the treble at 20 Hz for the low bass and 20kHz for the highs). They also limit the dynamic range of the recording (the difference between the quietest information on the disc and the loudest) to 90 decibels. Now, you might think that this is a lot of information and that this should be enough to satisfy the golden eared audiophiles amongst us! But we now have the readily available affordable technology to turn that fuzzy snapshot into an indistinguishable copy of the original – so let’s go for it!
Higher sample rates and Neil Young!
OK, Neil Young is an aging icon of Rock, but he does know what a good recording sounds like…cause he was there when the original was played and he knows that what he played during the recording session sounds nothing like the edition rendered on CD! The reason; There is not enough digital information sampled to recreate the original performance. Now, no recording will ever be able to absolutely recreate the live experience of Neil Young rocking out to Rocking In The Free World from a front row seat in concert, but the technology is here today to get us closer to that seat than ever before! Neil Young has even introduced a portable music player that takes advantage of this new technology called the PONO player. https://www.ponomusic.com/ The rest of the industry is now taking note of this increase in sound quality and have started incorporating it into their devices. But NOT SONOS or Apple Airplay or devices that connect via Bluetooth.
You may have diligently taken advantage of the latest digital technology available and downloaded all your music from ITunes in Apple AAC lossless encoding but as soon as you send these pristine music files to the Apple Air system or a SONOS system or over Bluetooth those files get down converted to a Compact Disc sample rate of 16 bit, 44.1kHz for transmission to your system! Unfortunately, until Apple and SONOS incorporate the needed electronics inside their devices and Bluetooth changes the way it transmits you will never hear the benefits of having a better music file to start with! This will require a physical change in the hardware. That’s right, new Apple products and a whole new SONOS system. Android and Windows based systems are already supporting these higher bitrate audio formats and a consortium of companies have formed the Play-Fi group. Here’s a link to Home Theater Review’s take on the system Play-Fi
At Wired 1 Consulting we strive to provide you with the best experience in audio and video. Contact us today for any questions you may have or to have us design and install the system you deserve!
At your service! (506)470-7510
Related Images:
Do’s and Don’ts for Streaming Media – as easy as 1,2,3!
Getting your system ready for streaming media playback (Netflix, YouTube etc.) requires a couple of important things to be added to your television or home entertainment system for optimum performance and enjoyment.
#1, There are differences in the speeds of internet download and upload depending on your choice of service provider.
You need a good, reliable connection to the internet. Although wireless internet is getting better all the time, the best connection to the internet is going to be a direct wired connection to your home’s internet router. This can’t always be easily made, for instance, your router may be located in another room of the house. Wired 1 Consulting can show you affordable options to get a great wired connection to the internet for your internet streaming content.
#2, DON’T use your new SMART TV as the device that connects your system to the internet, unless the TV is the ONLY device in the room! Here’s why: TV manufacturers are trying to add as many gadgets and gizmos to their sets in order to differentiate their sets from the competition. In almost all cases the TV manufacturers have a hidden agenda! Their TV’s are rife with the manufacturer’s proprietary apps, that make using streaming services overly complicated and in some cases intrusive and in all cases slow. At least a couple of manufacturers require you to sign up for their proprietary web service in the process of getting the television connected to the internet. In some cases this sign up allows the manufacturer, through a third party, to log your viewing habits and preferences!
Almost all TV’s have a way to get the sound out of the TV speakers and into a better quality audio system (yes, those TV speakers are pretty crappy) The problem is that these audio outputs, although they can be digital in nature, are usually only stereo sound. So, if you have invested in a good theater surround system to go with your new TV the sound is only going to go to your front right and left speakers. This has to do with digital audio copyright protection. A very hotly debated subject in the industry to say the least! Use your TV to show you the picture ONLY!
#3, USE A MEDIA SERVER! A media server is a device that is strictly designed to connect to your home network and internet streaming services, sending the picture to your TV and the sound to your theatre system. The user interface is a lot easier to understand and operate and the speed and flexibility is far superior to any SMART television. These devices will also make sure that you are getting the best quality surround sound to your home theater system. Your Dolby Digital or DTS indicators on your theater receiver will light up and you will have all the speakers working instead of just the right and left! There are a number of excellent affordable media servers available to you. If you are a user of Apple computers the Apple TV device is a logical choice, allowing you to get most of the streaming services including the new HBO GO app, as well as the most popular video and audio streaming services and the ability to screen “mirror” through Apple Airplay so you can see and hear an exact duplication of what is on your Apple device on your home theatre! . Another great choice is the Roku box, arguably the easiest and most flexible of the affordable media servers, with a ton of really neat features. Both of these devices can be purchased for around $100. Of course there are a number of other devices, some with more capability than these two available, We can help you to find one that fits your needs.
At Wired 1 Consulting we are here to help you get the most out of your electronic devices! Get them working right!
Call us today (506)470-7510. You’ll be glad you did!!
Related Images:
Move Your Stereo System Into The Digital Age
Friends like to joke around with me that I’ve been in the electronic business so long that I helped Edison invent the light bulb! I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I am one of the few guys around that can install, set the overhang, alignment and tracking weight for a turntable – remember them, they played 12″ discs made out of vinyl! 🙂 Believe it or not, turntables are enjoying a very healthy comeback!
Another concept that seems to have faded into obscurity is the STEREO system. A well set up stereo system can transport you into the realm of the recording studio without having a multitude of speakers and wires everywhere in the room, I’m talking an amplifier connected to a good pair of speakers playing the music you love. I have sold hundreds of stereo systems to very happy clients over the years and most of them are still enjoying them (quality electronics tend to last a LONG time). The electronic industry is all about surround sound and the possibility of selling you upwards of a dozen speakers for your listening room. I’m not knocking down surround sound. Creating the magic of the commercial cinema in a private living room is one of the cornerstones of Wired 1 Consulting’s business, but, there is a lot to said for the good old stereo system. The problem that owners of good stereo systems face in today’s world is that everything is going digital and “on the internet” and for these aficionados of stereo music listening the marriage of the old with the new has been hard to achieve. If you have one of these stereo systems this may be the solution for you: The Harman Kardon HK3770. It’s a stereo AM/FM receiver with tons of power (240 watts) full function remote control with plenty of analog inputs, including an actual turntable/phono input, but here’s the good part, it also has a bunch of digital audio inputs with a processor that can decode the latest in high bitrate audio, and it can connect to the internet and your home network. There’s even a free app for Apple and Android devices that will let you control it with your phone or tablet or with network connected computer! But that’s not all. it has Bluetooth 4.0 built in so, if have music on your phone, or your friends pop in and they have music that they would like you to hear on your system they can connect via Bluetooth without any wires, or, maybe they have their music on an IPod or a USB thumb drive you can plug right into the front USB port. You can also connect a powered subwoofer to the dedicated subwoofer output on the back panel for earth shaking bass! Now, if you have been following the home entertainment industry these technological innovations are not new but they are usually incorporated in a surround sound receiver that is designed to run a multitude of speakers in the room and be connected to a television of some sort. What this stereo receiver does for you is give you that connectivity with the proven audio quality of the Harman Kardon name in a stereo receiver.
So if you want to breathe new life into that aging stereo system give us a call. We have a number of clients who are LOVING their renewed system! Give us a call: (506)470-7510
Related Images:
The inevitability of change, or operating system headaches
New operating systems for computers are inevitable, it seems every couple of years a new “flavor” comes out from the companies that make the operating systems for our computers. For decades it has been Apple and Microsoft touting their operating system’s superiority and now relative newcomer, if you can call 18 years new, Google has of course it’s own computer operating system, in fact, they have 2! Android and Google Chrome OS. Every revision of an operating system bring new challenges to the countless companies that write programming software for these operating systems and pushes the operating system manufacturer to the limit to make sure that the system will work on the almost endless devices that are on the market…it’s a monumental task. In my business computers and software now go hand in hand with the latest in audio and video technologies and they have to work together to provide an exciting but easy experience for my clientele.
Microsoft has over the past couple of years found a way to speed up the development of their new operating systems by letting the public “test drive” the proposed, new operating system and report back to them with comments, both good and bad about the operation of the system. The call it the Developer Preview program and when you sign up you become a “Windows Insider”. This program is only for computer users that are very comfortable with the operation of a computer and how to get out of a jam, as over the course of the program you are likely to get into a few and should only be installed on a non critical computer that meets the required hardware specifications. What it does provide to Microsoft is a database of millions of Insiders test flying the system, providing feedback on problems, design changes etc. that Microsoft’s programmers can implement in the new operating system. A brilliant concept and one that hopefully will provide the end user of the new final release software with a much smoother experience.
So, if you have a spare computer that meets the requirements for Microsoft’s Windows 10 (that is due out in the fall of 2015) and you enjoy a tech challenge give it a try. You will learn an awful lot and it also helps to have an additional internet connected computer at the ready for answers to questions. So far, Windows 10 is looking great. You can join the Insider Program here https://insider.windows.com/Home/Index
Have fun!
Related Images:
Some upcoming changes to streaming media services
Google, the owner of YouTube recently announced that they were stopping support as of April 15/15 for a lot of devices that currently support a YouTube app. Most notably are a lot of Blu-Ray players and some televisions. This is obviously a cost cutting move for Google as they won’t have to write and provide product updates for the apps on these devices. This makes sense in the fact that Google has Google TV, their own plug in streaming media device, that plugs into an available HDMI port on your television. If you do use your device for YouTube streaming check the YouTube App on the device. If you see a notice, your device will not be able to play YouTube content after April 15th. YouTube will continue to be available through your computer browser.
In other news, Sony has announced an agreement with Spotify to include a Spotify app on both the PlayStation 3 and 4 gaming consoles. Free service will be available immediately with registration and paid service will provide advertising free streaming and better sound quality. This is available to all PlayStation owners now! One neat plus is that you will be able to listen to your Spotify music at the same time as you are playing your favourite PlayStation game.
Related Images:
Future Shop Closing all stores in Canada
Future Shop announced today that they will be closing all stores immediately. Some areas will see a re-branding to Best Buy within the month.
This is not “news” to me, as I have seen many Big Box retailers disappear over the years. Some consumers are turning to on-line electronic sales, but thankfully, more and more of you are realizing that SERVICE and KNOWLEDGE are critical determinants in where you choose to spend your electronic dollars.
At Wired 1 Consulting our goal is to provide you with the technology that is needed for your unique situation, today, and into the future! The electronic world is constantly evolving, who would have thought that we would be using our phones to change the channel on our televisions? At Wired 1 Consulting we are solution providers, whether it’s a new Smart Home designed solution or simply a way to organize and simplify your electronic lifestyle – We are here to help. Got a problem? Chances are that Wired 1 Consulting has a solution for you!
Carrying many of the top brands in electronics and with over 30 years experience in the audio-video business. Give us a call today! (506) 470-7510
Related Images:
New life for an old cabinet
By updating the electronics we breathed new life into an old TV cabinet. The addition of a Harman Kardon digital receiver with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth really jazzed up a set of Bose Acoustimas 10 speakers. A new Apple TV now lets them enjoy streaming internet services like Netflix and YouTube and mirror the screen from their IPad on the TV set. A new rechargeable Harmony Ultimate remote control gives them one touch operation of the system and gets rid of remote control clutter. This little system really rocks! Let Wired 1 Consulting get you back on track with today’s technology.
Related Images:
Looking to update your theater performance?
From March 6th 2015 to April 2nd you can save BIG on two of DENON’s most popular Audio Video Receivers!
Save $300 on the DENON AVR-X3100W! Dolby Digital and DTS 7.2 Surround sound. Ultra HD HDMI compatibility with 4K up-conversion. One of our most popular models! Until April 2nd ONLY $799.00 plus HST!
http://ca.denon.com/ca/product/hometheater/avreceiversht/avrx3100w
Save $400 on the DENON AVR-X4100W Incorporation Dolby ATMOS surround sound and a feature set too numerous to mention in this post! Until April 2nd only $1199.00 plus HST!
http://ca.denon.com/ca/product/hometheater/avreceiversht/avrx4100w
Check out the links and watch the videos on these 2 highly rated receivers and get your order in today!
Wired 1 Consulting is your Authorized DENON dealer in Fredericton. (506)470-7510