Photo courtesy of Sonance/Lelch Audio Video
“Imagine you have a movie stored on your computer, and you want to watch it on your TV in the living room,” prompts Kristin Reinitz, general manager and co-owner at Admit One Home Systems. “Instead of physically carrying a DVD or USB drive to the TV, you can use your home network to stream the movie directly from your computer to the TV.”
This, she explains, is network-based audio and video distribution in action—a technology feature Admit One employs more and more often in today’s homes. “It allows more flexibility in scalability and product placement over traditional category cabling, which has allowed us to deploy reliable systems in a variety of applications large or small—in new construction or in existing structures with existing infrastructure,” she explains. “In simpler terms, it’s like a virtual pipeline that delivers movies, music, or any other multimedia content from one place to another over the internet or a local network.”
Another tech-related feature embraced by industry professionals is the invisible speaker, says Alex Lelchuk, president of St. Louis Park-based Lelch Audio Video. He says, “Invisible speakers are a gamechanger; they completely disappear, blending with the space’s material and essentially transforming the way we perceive sound within our environments.” As an alternative, Reinitz suggests Line Source speakers by Wisdom Audio. “Particularly in expansive, contemporary homes with open floor plans or multitiered theater areas, achieving balanced, dynamic sound can pose a challenge,” she says. “Line Source speakers address this by minimizing floor and ceiling reflections while evenly dispersing sound levels throughout the room’s width.”
Rendering courtesy of Adobe Stock/murattellioglu
Lelchuk sees homeowners opt for myriad other tech features as well. “The advent of ultra-flat and zero-gap TVs has revolutionized visual technology, integrating seamlessly into the design of a room without any intrusive edges or gaps,” he says. “And, perhaps most impressively, intelligent lighting control has elevated the concept of lighting from a mere necessity to an art form. With glass palladium keypads and warm-dim architectural fixtures, lighting now serves as both a functional element and a piece of ‘wall jewelry,’ offering control and aesthetic appeal.”
Reinitz agrees, reinforcing the popularity of integrated lighting control, motorized shades, and lighting as a unified system. “Recognizing that lighting control and fixtures must harmonize for optimal performance, professionals are prioritizing early involvement of lighting and technology consultants,” she explains. “These experts possess comprehensive knowledge of system capabilities and options, ensuring seamless and efficient project execution.”
