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Custom Installation Equipment Reviews
TiO Home Automation System
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jul 13, 2016

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,979 as reviewed

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Easy retrofit replacement of wired volume controls
Dedicated router creates private TiO Wi-Fi network
Exceptional level of user customization
Minus
Limited direct IP control of third-party components
Few streaming services supported—but more coming

THE VERDICT
With TiO’s unique approach to home automation, systems are a breeze to design and install, quick to configure, and intuitively natural to use—with the bonus of being highly configurable by the user without the need for a return service call from the dealer.

The folks at TiO (short for “Turn it On”) claim they’re taking “an entirely fresh approach to home automation” with a philosophy that considers the user to be the most important part of a TiO system. In other words, if a home automation system were a round hole and the user a square peg, the manufacturer should re-engineer the hardware hole into a square rather than force the user to become a round peg. Of course, making things truly and honest-to-goodness-ly easy for the user is way, way simpler to pontificate about than it is to accomplish.

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Audio Video News
Onkyo, Pioneer AVRs Do Tidal
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 13, 2016
Tidal music streaming and FireConnect wireless multi-room connectivity are coming to AV receivers from Onkyo and Pioneer...
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Audio Video News
Hi-Res Label Unamas to Release 10 MQA Recordings
SV Staff  |  Jul 13, 2016
Unamas, the Japanese hi-res music label run by award-winning recording engineer Mick Sawaguchi will release 10 albums encoded in the MQA format on Friday (July 15).
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
BenQ Unveils i500 Smart Projector
SV Staff  |  Jul 12, 2016
BenQ says its about-to-be-released i500 mini DLP projector offers a new way to wirelessly stream “larger-than-life images in limited spaces, all without the hassle of connecting cables, media boxes, dongles, or portable devices.”
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Signals
Apple Doesn't Know Jack, Part 1
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jul 12, 2016
It is summer. Soon it will be fall. That means Apple will introduce a new iPhone. Reportedly, the new phone will be thinner, more water resistant, have a better camera, have more memory, and not have a headphone jack. Wait. What?

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Audio Video News
Jam On: The Story Behind Live Music Service Nugs.net
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 12, 2016
Nugs.net. Ever heard of ’em? I hadn’t but was intrigued when I saw the press release: “Live Music Pioneers nugs.net Launch Streaming Service.” Turns out the company has been making professional recordings of concert performances available to fans of jam bands for years—something followers of Gov’t Mule, Phish, and Widespread Panic probably already know. To learn more about this unique service, I reached out to founder Brad Serling.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Monster Introduces Ghostbusters Headphones
SV Staff  |  Jul 11, 2016
Not one to miss a promotional opportunity, Monster has introduced three Ghostbusters-themed headphones to coincide with the release of Ghostbusters (2016) last Friday
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Audio Video News
NAD Firmware Update Adds MQA Support
SV Staff  |  Jul 11, 2016
NAD Electronics has announced a firmware update that brings MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) support to a handful of its Masters Series components with more to follow in the future.
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Grace NotesAudio Video NewsNew Products
Nativ Adds CD Ripper to High-Res Audio Lineup on Indiegogo
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jul 11, 2016
High-resolution audio has a new champion. This past April we reported that Nativ had launched an Indiegogo campaign to bring a premium high-resolution wireless touchscreen music player and DAC to production. It easily surpassed its funding goal by 316%—that’s $344,000 from its initial goal of $100,000. Well, to sweeten the ask, Nativ just announced they’re adding the Nativ Disc powered by Gracenote, a new CD ripping unit that continues their “bit-perfect” streak. Think no one cares about high-resolution audio? The 356 Indiegogo backers certainly care.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Klipsch Offers Walnut Base Turntable
SV Staff  |  Jul 11, 2016
Klipsch has partnered with Pro-ject Audio to offer its first turntable, expanding yet again beyond the horn-loaded home speakers the iconic brand has been building for 70 years.
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