Kiwi Test Lab

One of the most important phases of a large, custom audio-visual installation is the in-house testing.  When Kiwi Audio Visual moved into its new building in Carlsbad, one of the first tasks was to get a test lab designed and wired so that future projects can be connected and tested fully.  This included testing the audio zones, video zones, touch panels, and other subsystems. 

In-house testing is instrumental in finding small bugs and other issues that might otherwise be found onsite halfway through an installation.  The efficiency with testing components and programming early also saves costly man hours later on during the project.

If you are interested in coming to the Kiwi facility and seeing our test lab, either give us a call (760-931-9922) or stop on by 1950 Kellogg Ave, Carlsbad CA 92008.

Crestron's Analog to Digital Upgrade Promotion

	Crestron's new analog to digital upgrade program is already a huge success. Simply swap out your current analog switchers and replace them with Crestron DigitalMedia™ – no new wires or terminations – and you're instantly in the digital world. Crestron is offering you up to 100% trade-in value for your analog equipment, so the cost to upgrade is practically free. It's an amazing program. Here's what your peers are saying:
	They're also expanding the trade-in program to include all analog distribution systems - even other manufacturers' products. You could receive up to 100% trade in value for your analog equipment - whether it's our PVID, QM or IM products, or any other manufacturers' products. We'll show you normal pricing and your trade-in price so you can see how much you saved. It's really a no brainer.

Uncrossing The Wires

Being a homebuilder is no easy task. Aside from managing the concerns of a new homeowner, you have to deal with each and every one of the contractors that comes into the home. For better or worse, you're the face of the home, and that means that if something goes wrong, it is likely you that ends up with the black eye.

As a builder, you tend to be a jack of all trades. Bringing together so many different pieces of the home puzzle means that it is nearly impossible for you to be an expert in all fields, and high-quality A/V has changed significantly in the last few years. From custom speaker installations to full-home automation systems and televisions on motorized brackets that can slide away behind a picture or under a bed, the world of in-home electronics has become extremely complicated, especially when it comes to programming new pieces in a home.

Two of the best things that any Electronic Systems Contractor can do for you are to ensure that not only every piece of equipment they bring to the home is ready to go, but that they also take the time to program and test the same equipment before it ever arrives. Simply put, testing and programming before equipment leaves the shop leads to faster and more efficient installation times. Further, everything from television color and stereo sound can be tweaked, all before a homeowner ever sees it.

If you find yourself with equipment that hasn't been properly tested, you'll need to have it removed, serviced and properly re-installed. By finding a company that can set up racks, fit stereos and program components in-house before they are ever installed, both you, the builder, and the owner can save time and money, the two most valuable commodities in any home design.

At Kiwi Audio Visual, we know how important in-house testing and programming is to every new home project. For that reason, we never leave you in the lurch. Come see what we can do to make a project flow more smoothly.

Crestron's DM (Digital Media) System

Crestron has long been known in the electronics industry for supplying the best in both technology and innovation; the company has never been satisfied with simply following trends. Instead, it focuses on creating them, on thinking outside the box before anyone else has ever figured out just what the box looks like. Now, Crestron has once again created a solution intended to help audio and videophiles get the most from their systems - their line of Crestron Digital Media (DM) products. Intended to work with a wide variety of input types over a large range, the DM line of switchers and input cards helps homeowners to find a unified system that streamlines all applications through one simple-to-use console. The DM concept has proven popular - Microsoft, Time Warner, and ESPN all have Crestron systems working for them, as do Rice, Midwestern, and Ohio State Universities to name a few.


The DM Advantage - Getting Specific

New technology leads to innovation, but also to a reduction in support for signals of a previous generation. Not only that, but multiple media sources will often use different inputs and outputs, leaving a homeowner struggling to find an overall solution that minimizes cabling issues. Fortunately, the Crestron DM system is designed to deliver in a big way. Take the entry-level DM-MD6X1 as an example. The MD6X1 supports RGB, HDMI, multi-format BNC video and SPDIF audio. In addition, the HDMI input comes with support for HDCP and DVI. This gives the MD6X1 the ability to take input from virtually any source in a home - computer, laptop, cable, or satellite box - and effortlessly route it where it needs to be. Speaking of routing, the system also allows for extra inputs up to 450 feet away from the source box with extra DM transmitters, giving MD6X1 systems the power to perform both in residential homes and in large business complexes with equal facility. Now you can stream multiple video and/or audio sources across several rooms in your house; all in the highest quality with no lag time or distortion.


Tying It In - Using DM with Other High-Quality Products


Crestron's technology is such that it can broadly accept inputs from a variety of audio and video sources, giving a consumer and an electronics systems contractor the ability to create a full-home theater system from the ground up. No longer will you be limited from putting in a custom-built Triad or Prodigy sound system or a wide variety of both Plasma and LCD TV inputs. Ease of use is key for Crestron technology, as evidenced in their use of QuickSwitch technology when changing between HDMI signals. In order to minimize latency and lag time between signals, QuickSwitch ensures that an HDCP connection is maintained with each device in the system, meaning that no re-authentication of a new signal is necessary, greatly reducing lag experienced by users.


Crestron continues to push the home theater edge with innovations such as their DM system, helping to drive the entire industry forward. Visit our Website for more information on Crestron products.

Smart and Savvy Homeowners - The Price of Perfection

For professional A/V installers, some of the best jobs available come from savvy and well-positioned homeowners - those clients that have the means and the desire to purchase high quality A/V products. As home theater systems become more powerful and easier to access, more and more wealthy homeowners are looking to create a theater-like experience in their homes, complete with features like specialty lighting, Runco 3D projection systems, and whole-home control panels.

Opportunity for Advancement – The Creation of a Custom System

The creation of a home theater system for tech-smart customers can be a significant milestone for a business, as a satisfied customer can mean free word of mouth advertising as well as reputation gains. The opportunity to build a high-quality system also gives an installation technician the chance to shine, to bring their skills at creation and artistry to the forefront. Many wealthy homeowners will have an idea of what they would like that goes beyond the simple “home theater” model and will speak to specific product lines such as Creston and their whole-home U-Panel control options, along with options such as Digital Media. Homeowners know what they want - the best - and options such as the new Creston line are both impressive and versatile.


Easy to Avoid Pitfalls – Making the Best of a New Client Relationship

First are the issues surrounding the quality of the products being installed. Techs need to be certain that they are using the exact products asked for, and if these are not available or cannot be used, they need to communicate why. It is, after all, the client's hard-earned money that is paying for the system, and it is in the best interest of both technician and homeowner to know exactly what types of products are being installed and when.

Next, be aware of questions concerning how products operate. A technician must be careful to confirm with homeowners what they expect from the system when it is finished. Often, technology companies advertise their products in such a way that they appear to be capable of more than they are. A professional technician will meet with the homeowner to discuss how the end system will look, as well as how it will perform when it is first utilized. A superior service technician will be able to craft a system that not only comprises the elements requested by a homeowner, but that also performs exactly as stated, bringing the theater experience directly into a home.

Communication as King – The Rise of the Savvy Homeowner

Technicians can easily ensure they side-step these problems by remembering that homeowners are now tech-savvy, and need only the basics of home theater details in order to understand their functioning. Superior communication gives techs the freedom they need to create a theater system that is a work of art while simultaneously providing homeowners with the peace of mind that they deserve.

Creston Focuses On Prodigal Fun with Its New Line

Creston is one of the most respected names in the home theatre and automation industries. Known for their high quality, Creston products have long been sought after by connoisseurs and sound enthusiasts alike.

To both stay ahead of the curve and offer their line of high-quality A/V products to the broadest range of consumers, Creston has developed their Prodigy line, which focuses on a combination of whole-home automation in a simple to use package.

Simple? Absolutely. Taking advantage of the latest in wireless technology, the Prodigy control center can be easily installed in any home and connected to televisions and audio systems, along with thermostats and lighting. The Creston Prodigy line makes it possible to control the entire ambiance of a room with a simple touch of a button – and with no need for complex wiring.

In addition to quality, Creston has also taken into account the need for affordability, and has made the Prodigy line extremely scalable. Start with a wireless home theatre center, and then branch out to heating or lighting control, all from the same basic platform. With a simple interface, the Prodigy control center gives ultimate control at any level.

Prodigy is also smart enough to act on its own and help you save money by intelligently adjusting lighting and temperature when no one is around. Backed up by the Creston brand and with features unmatched in the industry, Prodigy is cutting-edge technology in an affordable package.

How Apple Integration Can Enhance A Home Theatre Atmosphere

The new face of high-quality A/V and home theatre includes not only a focus on green technologies such as automation and solar power, but also on complete synchronicity of all system parts. Consumers have high standards for the products they purchase not only in terms of overall quality and installation, but also in terms of ease of functionality. Two devices that are now frequently becoming home theatre integrated are the iPad and iPhone.

iPads are gaining home theatre functionality with the emergence of apps such as the one from Creston. Creston offers a free app download in the form of Creston Mobile which turns the iPad into a 2-way touch panel that can be made to work with any Creston product. This instantly gives the user the ability to create a self-designed remote control layout that can wirelessly turn on and manipulate all aspects of their home theatre experience – from lights and sound to video and action.

The integration of Apple devices into existing home theatre systems means greater ease of control for users and a broader range of functions for the iPhone, iPod and iPad.

iPad ‘Means Nothing But Good Things’ for Crestron

Touchscreens are only 5 to 8 percent of Crestron’s business, so “I don’t think we’ll go out of business if it all goes to iPad," says VP Randy Klein

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FREE! Kiwi is offering FREE Crestron programming!

On February 9th, DirecTV switched from Sirius-XM     Radio to SonicTap to offer you a better music experience and we couldn't be happier with the new diverse and robust selection of listening options...

www.DirecTV.com

Unfortunately, in making this change, DirecTV's music channel line-up will no longer correspond with your existing Creston remote and touchpanel preset options.


To better serve our clients, we are offering to correct this minor annoyance at no cost to you. Not only will we update your Creston remote or touchpanel DirecTV music presets for FREE, we will also update ALL CABLE CHANNEL PRESETS to ensure your listening, viewing and entire automation experience is flawless.


Schedule Your Appointment Today. To ensure your preset buttons go where they are intended, contact your sales person at (888)567-KIWI to have these quick updates performed on your system.

* Offer runs 02/10/10-03/31/10. Valid only for existing customers who purchased equipment through Kiwi Audio Visual.

Crestron + iPhone = Ultimate Control?

Crestron has an app for that!  The Crestron Mobile Pro app found in the iTunes App store can be downloaded to an iPhone, iPhone 3G, and the iPod touch.  It uses two different ways to communicate with your home automation system.  The first and possibly more robust way is using the 3G network.  This means that you can check the status of your lights in the bathroom from anywhere in the continental US (try not to remember the lack of coverage offered by AT&T)  The second way is using your home wi-fi network or a hotspot at your local Starbucks.  Both of these connections have their own pros and cons.  Without some extensive testing, I will not be able to comment on the response time of the button presses through either of these connections.  I hope to see it in action in the wild soon so more to follow.