Partnership Delivers a Smart AV Receiver

Control4 and Sony have partnered together to launch the first AV receivers with built-in home automation.  Control4 is a top innovator in home automation systems.  Recently, they announced that Sony has built the Control4® automation technology into their new ES receivers, delivering top-notch AV performance and home automation within one easy-to-use product.

This is an unprecedented partnership for sure, and it is redefining AV receivers by delivering an integrated AV and automation experience in just one device. Sony’s top-of-the-line receiver, STR-DA5800ES, boasts nine channels of hearty amplification and cutting-edge digital processing to provide enjoyable surround sound and crisp lifelike images for all of your favorite movies, TV shows, and video games.  You also get convenient connections that you won’t find on most other receivers — including a built-in 4-port Ethernet switch and HDMI outputs for your main room plus a second zone.  Most exciting, however, is the ability to make this incredible receiver the centerpiece of a home automation system.  You and your family will enjoy the superior receiver performance, the unmatched content and the amazing selection of streaming media services, along with the added benefits of personalized automation that can transform your house into a very smart home. Sony has certainly embraced the benefits of home automation, partnering with Control4 to use their technology to revolutionize the Sony receiver line, while delivering a fantastic automation experience.

With a Control4 Activation License, authorized Control4 Dealers in the U.S. can enable full home controller functionality to automate so many features in the home.  Imagine managing the lighting, adjusting the climate, arming the security system, locking the back door, and managing the energy usage, all through the award winning and easy-to-use Control4 on-screen interface.  For Control4 Dealers, these completely integrated receivers deliver a broad home automation solution with fewer boxes and cables, simplifying the overall installation process.

Both the Sony STR-DA5800ES and the Sony STR-DA2800ES include Control4 automation to create and control a single-room home entertainment system.  Both receiver models are available for order now through authorized Control4 and Sony ES dealers.  The Control4 Activation License to enable full-controller functionality is an additional $300 when purchased together with the new ES receivers in the U.S.

In case you aren’t quite sold on the idea of a receiver that also handles home automation, stop by All Star Audio Video and check it out for yourself. Trust us, YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

Control4 Makes Home Automation Effortless

The phrase “home automation” sounds great, but for many people, it is difficult to envision all that the phrase can include.  The following is short and simple list to give you an idea of what home automation can do for you:

—Control your home theater system
—Pipe music, your TV’s audio or your voice into different rooms
—Control your air conditioning and heating
—Access video cameras inside and outside your house
—Control your lights
—Open doors, windows, blinds, curtains, and other motorized entry/exit components, like your garage door
—Interface with your home’s security system
—Turn on and off any appliance

Amazingly, this can be done easily,
—From a computer
—From touchscreen panels or fancy light switches or iPads
—From outside your house
—Automatically, based on a schedule
—Automatically, based on other “events” that happen, like doors opening, or motion sensors being set off
—One at a time, or all together

The basic idea behind home automation is that one thing needs to tell another thing to do something (turn on, turn off, open door, turn lights on or off, and so on), usually without someone physically going over to that second thing.  One day, home automation may be as simple as calling out commands from anywhere in your home, in order for a system of microphones to pick up your words and translate them into actions.  For now, home automation is not quite that easy.

Today, these pieces need to talk over some sort of network, using some type of protocol.  Communication protocol can be through Bluetooth or it can be through your electrical system (existing power lines), over your home’s Wi-Fi network or the via your cellular network.  Communication can also be through proprietary protocols that equipment manufacturers have established so that their equipment can talk with other companies’ equipment.

So the question is this: what do you want to have automated in your home and what protocols are available?   Replacing a house full of switches and dials with a single remote seems like a great idea, but setting it all up is not easy and there are fees that can be fairly substantial.  Like other home automation system manufacturers, Control4 has a number of different offerings to consider.  If you’re looking to adjust audio and video in your family room or home theater, the new Control4 Starter Kit should get you going; it includes a HC-250 Controller, which delivers IR control for up to eight components (via splitters connected to the four IR ports on the rear), serial control for up to two receivers or other systems and IP control for an unlimited number of devices.  There’s also an SR-250 Zigbee remote in the box, which offers full control through a television interface (HDMI and component outputs can be found on the back of the HC-250 Controller).  You can also have full access through a variety of add-ons, including a 7-inch in-wall touchscreen with camera, a portable version, or a license for any Android, iOS or Mac device, including smartphones, tablets and computers.

The Starter Kit can enable control of a single room, which may be fine for some users, however it is possible to add additional home theater setups, by adding additional HC-250s.  You also have an option to add ZigBee lighting controls, ZigBee door locks or even a door intercom unit with camera included.  While installing automation in a large home can be rather expensive, the Control4 Starter Kit is designed to help homeowners start the process, rather than to deliver a complete solution.  Once you have the Starter Kit in place, additional components can be added at any time.

Can you imagine this kind of smart technology and control in your home?

 

VIZIO – Great TV, Outstanding Price

Everyone knows that if you are patient and can wait, the price of technology will eventually drop down to meet your budget.  Flat-screen HDTVs are prime examples.  Vizio has been a leader in developing budget busting TV’s, allowing you to find a quality TV that you and your family will enjoy without breaking the bank.  As a 60-inch LED HDTV, the E601I-A3 offers a big, bright picture, along with built-in Wi-Fi to access plenty of online services, all for a price around $1,000.

The E601I-A3 is a standard glossy-black rectangle with an extremely thin outer bezel and equally sleek profile.  The glossy-black rectangular base is sturdy, however it is important to note that the base does not swivel on this model.  A thin row of buttons sits on the left edge of the HDTV for basic functions, but like most HDTV controls they are rarely used.  The remote control is usually close at hand.  On the back of the TV, there are two HDMI ports, two USB ports, and component/composite video inputs sit facing the left of the screen, while the remaining two HDMI ports (for a total of four), RF connector for the built-in tuner (over-the-air or ClearQAM), Ethernet port, digital and analog audio inputs, and VGA input face down.

The Vizio remote has been streamlined over the last generation.  Instead of a sliding design, it is simply one piece of plastic with a standard remote control on one side and a QWERTY keyboard on the other for inputting text.  You can access a variety of online content and social networking services on the E601-A3 through the built-in Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection.  By pressing the VIA (Vizio Internet Apps) button in the middle of the remote, you can bring up a list of services on the bottom of the screen.  This is a convenient way to go through online offerings without interrupting the program you are watching,  You can easily access Facebook, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu videos and apps, and Yahoo! Widgets, along with a number of other services.

Color levels are generally accurate with the E601I-A3, however it has multiple color temperature adjustment settings; you can tweak individual channels to suit your preferences.  If you decide to venture beyond its many presets, which cover everything from the usual game and movie modes to individual sports like football and golf, it is definitely possible to bring out more color and sharpness.

All-in-all, the E601I-A3 will make a popular addition to any family room or home entertainment area.  Once the settings have been massaged to your liking, you and your family will love this mammoth TV.  Everyone will find it is easy to use and packed with many simple to navigate apps.  The quality of this 60” LED HDTV is top notch and the price makes it a deal that you just can’t pass up!

 

Happy New Year 2013 from All Star

One of the real joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to say thank you and express our gratitude to those who have helped make All Star one of the premier audio/video specialists in Houston. 2013 promises to be an exciting year for the home theater industry and we look forward to serving your family for many years to come…

WE THANK YOU!

We are so grateful for the chance to make a difference,
however great or small,
in helping to bring a higher level of entertainment value
to your family and home

Happy Holidays from All Star

The Experience of a Samsung Smart TV

It doesn’t matter whether you are enjoying 2D or 3D content, you will certainly be amazed by the vivid colors and clear images on the full HD 1080p resolution Samsung UN55ES8000 Internet TV.  The 30,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio of this Samsung TV perfectly shows the brightest whites and darkest blacks, delivering beautiful, deeper and sharper images.  This TV has so many exciting features that you and your family will enjoy using them all for a fine TV viewing experience.

For this top notch 2012 model, Samsung has included many new features including a brand new remote which includes Google’s new TV search function, along with a QWERTY keyboard.  3D viewing is fun to use especially with such a vibrant picture.  Brightness on the UN55ES8000 LED backlit LCD TV is extreme and so is the contrast. Samsung has been working hard on their Smart Hub Smart TV, with the 2012 version offering more Apps and full search capability.

The UN55ES8000 includes Samsung’s new Micro Dimming Ultimate Panel Package, a new feature that creates a much more detailed picture by brightening areas of the screen with light.  Overall, the effects are awesome, bringing a more colorful three dimensional image to life.

3D Viewing Quality improved immensely on last year’s model, therefore Samsung has included the same offering this year.  Samsung uses active shutter glasses in it’s 3D offerings and continues to include this new technology.

The 2D to 3D conversion has greatly improved from past Samsung models.  With the touch of a small button on the remote control, you can either watch your 2D content as is or you can press the option to convert the material to 3D.  The choice is yours to make!

The extraordinary appearance of the Samsung UN55ES8000 is distinguished by a “window” effect with a .2″ frame design which enlarges the visible screen area without enlarging the size of the actual TV.  This model is sleek and super thin, with a depth of approximately .5 inches.  The silver chrome color of the frame is hardly even noticeable.

With so many new services, Samsung’s Smart TVs allow users a rich variety of choices for their home viewing pleasure.  Not only can family members enjoy their favorite TV shows and Blu-Ray movies, but they can also keep up with exercise programs, to-do lists and other activities. Families can even have great fun viewing their family photos all through this amazing large screen Smart TV.  There are many additional features available on this Smart TV, including Samsung’s Social TV feature which allows users to see Facebook activity, Twitter feeds and other social media platforms on a side bar.  Built-in Wifi is included in this model and allows for easy connection to the Internet to enable the Smart TV Internet TV options.  For those who may be worried about technology quickly changing, it is important to note that with the Smart Evolution feature, the TV uploads the newest features each year through a special kit.

Perhaps the best and most unique features are the facial recognition and voice and hand control system that is built into Samsung’s UN55ES8000.  Imagine turning the TV on just by saying, “Hi TV”, or waving a hand in front of this Smart TV when it is turned on, to prompt it to display menu control choices near the bottom of the screen.  The facial recognition part of the equation allows the TV to know which settings to use, depending on who has turned on the TV.   You may be wondering how can this TV be so smart?  There is a little bulge on the top of the TV that houses a rather small, built-in camera; the camera is the eyes, or “the brain” for these two great features.

If you are ready for a Smart TV, you should definitely consider Samsung!

Sharp Unveils World’s Biggest LED TV

How’s this for a superlative? The biggest TV in the world.

It may not be that simple. We know of at least a couple of plasma screens that are larger.

But with a 90-inch screen, Sharp may have just rolled out the biggest LED high-def television on the market.

The new Aquos LED TV, unveiled Tuesday, stands 4 feet tall and is 6 feet, 8 inches across. (As Consumer Reports notes, that means your television screen would be as wide as an average NBA forward is tall).

Despite all that, Sharp brags, the set is less than 5 inches thick and weighs 114 pounds (considerably less than an NBA forward).

Consumer Reports obviously didn’t render a verdict after just a quick look, but noted that Sharp “has definitely taken the lead in larger TV screen sizes.” It cited the 60-, 70- and 80-inch sets from the past, saying they had typically done well in TV ratings, although some of the monster screens had relatively narrow viewing angles.

“Of course,” Consumer Reports added, “not everyone has the room — or room in the budget — for a 90-inch set.”

So, when rolling out the world’s biggest TV (in its class, anyway), why bother with subtlety and understatement, right?

Sharp Electronics of America President John Herrington said it “offers size, picture quality and smart functionality unlike anything consumers have experienced.” But that was barely a warm-up for the news release accompanying the announcement.

“Imagine yourself standing at the precipice of the Grand Canyon,” it reads. “It’s 3,000 feet straight down. The wind howls in your ears. Your heart races as you leap forward and plummet toward the bottom. Just before you plunge into the river below … you spill the popcorn all over the living room couch.

“That’s the experience you’ll get when watching the breathtaking 90-inch (diagonal) AQUOS LED TV (model LC-90LE745U), introduced today by Sharp.”

What do you think? Would you ever consider such a massive TV?

Panasonic VIERA 65″ Plasma 3D HDTV

Even before you turn it on, the Panasonic TC-P65ST30 65″ Class VIERA ST30 Series 1080p 3D Plasma TV enhances your environment by simply being a beautiful object. It’s when you fire it up, however, that it becomes obvious that the TC-P65ST30 is at the frontier of a flat panel breakthrough which turns traditional passive viewing into a completely interactive 3D experience.Panasonic uses Full HD Frame Sequential technology to create its 3D images. Images recorded in 1920 x 1080 pixels for both the right-eye and the left-eye. When you view the screen through active-shutter glasses that open and close each lens in sync with the alternating images, you see breathtaking Full HD 3D pictures with stunning power and realism. Vividness is the key word in the TC-P65ST30’s design. Besides 3D, the 600Hz Subfield Motion technology ensures action with striking clarity while gamers will appreciate the 1080 lines of moving-picture resolution coupled with Game Mode which optimizes contrast and sharpness and accelerates image processing. The TC-P65ST30’s extensive connectivity has got your media options covered with three HDMI ports, one component and composite connection and two USB connections.

FEATURES

• Full HD 3D: Revolutionary VIERA Full HD 3D Technology delivers award-winning realism that immerses you in the image
• Infinite Black 2 Panel: Delivers deep blacks and minimizes reflection for bright, vivid images
• VIERA Connect Wi-Fi Ready: Enjoy a world of movies, sports and other online apps plus free Skype video calls on your VIERA HDTV
• VIERA Image Viewer with 3D Playback (Movie & Photo Capable): View your digital photos and videos, including 3D images, on your VIERA HDTV
• 600Hz Sub-Field Drive: 600Hz technology lets you view superb full-HD motion and still images with 1080 lines of resolution. For even greater clarity with motion images, Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology. This technology converts the motion in each scene into data

Sonos Play:3 Big Sound for Small Spaces

If you are limited in room space and want to fill it with great sound, the Play:3 could be for you. The Sonos Play:3 wireless hi-fi system is a powerful speaker designed to incorporate and mesh with the rest of the Sonos family. Macworld recently gave the device a “5.0 out of 5 Mice,” saying the device “can easily fill a room with sound from [a vast and diverse array of sources, including] your iTunes library, internet radio, and services such as Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, Spotify, Mog, Rdio, Last.fm, SiriusXM, [and many more].”

Like the previous Sonos Play:5, the new Play:3  is an all in one wireless music system that streams music and audio programming.  The Sonos Play:3 has 3 speakers; two mid-range, one tweeter, and one bass radiator.  The Play:3 was designed to accommodate areas with limited space such as a bedroom, home office, kitchen, or study.  Each speaker has its own digital amplifier.

The Play:3 has no subwoofer due to minimal enclosure space, however it uses bass radiator technology. The bass radiator mimics a speaker cone to reinforce a speaker’s low-end bass frequency, which allows it to efficiently provide deep bass in the compact enclosure.  For not having a subwoofer, the depth of the bass produced by the bass radiator was better than expected and I was pleasantly surprised.  If you listen to music genres with deep bass this unit may not be for you.  If you’re looking to make efficient use of space, the trade off in bass may not be critical.

If you’re looking to listen in a smaller or enclosed area, the Play:3 is loud enough for most of your listening needs. Having tested both the Play:3 and Play:5, the volume of the Play:3 is approximately 75-80% of the Play:5.  If you’re looking to listen to your music content in an open living area the Play:5 may be better a better choice.

Listening to all generes of music, the depth and richness of the Play:3 were similar with an edge to the Play:5 at both higher and lower volumes. Still, both very crisp and clear and if I wasn’t comparing both systems the Play:3 is still quite impressive in sound quality.  The sound for numerous music genres, radio talk programming, and podcasts for the Play:3 was superb.

A nice feature of the Play:3 is that it can be placed in either a horizontal or vertical position.  The unit has pads on the bottom and sides to easily facilitate horizontal or vertical positioning.  In addition, the unit is provided with a 1/4 inch threaded hole at the back of the case to provide mounting capability on the walls or ceiling with separate purchase of a mount kit. The unit is light, compact, and sleek in design.

The Play:3  was designed to fit in small compact areas.  For its size, the Play:3 packs a big punch. The sound of the mid-range and bass is rich, clear, and vibrant and can easily fill a small room with great sound.

The Play:3 is perfect for the home office, bedroom, study, or bathroom.  The horizontal and vertical positioning or optional wall/ceiling mount provides the flexibility to locate the unit in tight areas where space is a premium.

Fully compatible with all Sonos Products and Multiple Controllers, you can control the Play:3 on your desktop or on mobile devices using free apps for iPad, iPhone, and Android.

Add players all over your home with one touch. The Sonos Play:3 is easy to set up, relatively affordable, portable, and nicely balanced. If you are just discovering Sonos products, this is a nice device to help you “get your feet wet.” The Play:3 sound might not be as big as the sound you can extract from larger devices, such as the Sonos Play:5. But you might be shocked and amazed by just how much sound you get out of the Play:3 — as well as how deep and rich and articulated that sound is.

The Play:3 is an ideal stereo for relatively small, “nook-y” spaces, like your kitchen, the kids’ bedroom, your own bedroom or a small library or office. But don’t get the wrong impression. It is powerful enough and produces big enough sound to saturate a much larger space, such as a living room or even a home theater space.

Obviously, you will need to take into account several variables around your home theater or entertainment area, such as acoustics, space, other furniture, etc. Rather than go through the hassle of installing and setting up your Sonos systems yourself… CALL THE TEAM AT ALL STAR AUDIO VIDEO TODAY!

(713) 464-8203

Integra DTR 50.3 Receiver

All Star Audio Video is proud to be an authorized dealer for Integra products. It’s by far and away one of our most favorite brands for home theater receivers and processors.

Integra comes from a different heritage than your typical mainstream A/V products. The engineers at Integra are mostly concerned with audio/video performance, ease of use, and long-term reliability. You will not find lots of flashing lights or crazy features on Integra products. What you will find, though, are always the latest features in the world of A/V. Integra has a very tight connection with both Dolby Labs and THX, which allows them to be first to market with audio or video advances.

One new product from Integra, the 50.3 receiver, is a shining example of just how much value Integra packs into their products. We thought it would be fun to feature it here for you to learn a little more about it.

An important thing to remember when making a receiver purchase is the fact that unlike a lot of disposable consumer electronics, you’ll probably have your receiver for a very long time. The good ones are made to last!

ALL BUSINESS, NO GIMMICKS!

Dolby Volume – This one is just great! Imagine if all of those commercials that came on at twice the volume level could be reduced back to the normal volume?Wouldn’t that be great? Integra is one of the first brands to include Dolby Volume, which will fix this issue that drives all of us nuts. This feature is found on both the 40.3 and 50.3.

IDT HQV Vida VHD1900 + Marvel Qdeo 4K – Now that’s a mouthful! This is a dual chip array that does an incredible job converting your non-HD sources to HD quality. High Definition sources are even improved to reduce compression artifacts. Bottom line… when you stream in a Netflix movie, it will look far better played through the 50.3!

WHY YOU’LL WANT US TO HELP YOU HOOK THIS PUPPY UP!

HDMI – 8 total inputs so you never run out of connections (seven on the rear, one on the front).

Ethernet Enabled – Stream in Pandora, Slacker, and many more including the latest cool service, Spotify!

Powered Zone 2 – Connect your kitchen or deck speakers up here for a great expansion option.

Great Amplifier Section – 135 watts per channel. And these are not the “if hit by lightning” watts found on the Kmart $199 thousand watt theater in a box, this is the real deal… heck the 50.3 weighs in at 40 pounds!!

Audyssey EQ– This is pretty neat. Our installers, using a calibrated microphone can fine-tune the 50.3 to your room acoustics.

All of this adds up to just an incredible value. Contact us to learn more, or explore our home theater page for some great education on how to put together your home theater or media room.

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