John Sciacca

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Other Tech
Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote Control
John Sciacca  |  Apr 03, 2008

the list System control can be a nightmare. Almost every gadget comes with a remote, and many "basic" systems require multiple controllers. Even my parents - whose entertainment system is built around a 27-inch tube TV and a VCR - have three remotes.

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Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews
Logitech Harmony Touch Smart Touchscreen Universal Controller
John Sciacca  |  Dec 25, 2012

Remote controls can essentially be clumped into three categories: low-, middle-, and high-end. At the low end are DIY models that offer basic “all-in-one” control functions and are meant to replace lost or broken manufacturer-issued remotes. High-end models require professional programming and provide powerful automation features, IP and RS-232 control, and radio-frequency operation.

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The Connected Life
Long Live the (AVR) King!
John Sciacca  |  Jan 20, 2015
A customer called my installation company recently looking to upgrade his system. We did the original in stall at his vacation home back in 2001, and he wanted to replace the aging DLP with a new flat panel, upgrade to a Netflix-streaming Blu-ray player, and get a new universal remote. When I looked through his file, I saw his AV receiver was approaching 13 years old, so I recommended he replace that as well to take advantage of a generation’s worth of technology improvements.
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Other Tech
Look, Ma! No Wires!
John Sciacca  |  Jan 06, 2005

By far one of the biggest challenges for most people installing a home theater system is wiring the speakers - especially the surrounds because they're typically placed quite a ways from the rest. Wireless connections are an obvious solution, and at this year's CES, several manufacturers offered systems taking advantage of 2.4-GHz wireless technology to feed the surrounds.

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Other Tech
Lutron AuroRa Wireless Lighting Control System
John Sciacca  |  Dec 03, 2007

Despite technological advances in every area, most homes are still limited to just two pieces of automation: garage-door opener and remote control. And while it's unfathomable to think of manually cranking a car's windows or locking its doors, people remain content to walk around their homes turning lights on and off - just like Thomas Edison did.

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CEDIA 2015
M3B Delivers Affordable HDMI Matrix Via Coax
John Sciacca  |  Oct 17, 2015
The one thing that nearly every home in the country has been wired with is good o’le RG6 coax cable. This is traditionally used for off-air antenna, cable TV or satellite video distribution, but now the smart guys at Metra Home Theater Group have introduced the M3B Metra Multimedia Broadcast system to utilize this existing cabling to create a low cost, incredibly scalable HDMI matrix distribution system.

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Accessory ReviewsCustom Installation Equipment Reviews
MantelMount MM860 Motorized TV Mount Review
John Sciacca  |  May 05, 2020

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Solves major TV installation issue
Solid build quality
Out-of-the-box automation
Minus
Limited horizontal swivel range
Awkward power/cable routing
Professional installation highly recommended

THE VERDICT
The MM860 costs more than many TVs, but it solves a common installation issue, performs reliably, and looks cool.

As long as architects design houses with a fireplace as the focal point of the living/family room, people will continue to mount their TVs above the fireplace mantel. But a problem with that location is that it situates the screen too high for comfortable viewing. And even though people know that height is going to be an issue, they often have no other obvious installation choice and are consequently forced to suffer life with TVOF (TV Over Fireplace) syndrome.

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CEDIA 2017
MantleMount MM850 Knows How to Get Down
John Sciacca  |  Sep 09, 2017
Due to room layout, many homeowners opt to mount their flat panel TV over the mantle above a fireplace. And while this might work with symmetrical design sensibility and produce the right feng shui flow for the space, it almost always puts the display too high, frequently producing odd screen reflections, causing neck strain, and making viewing uncomfortable. The simple – and obvious – solution is to use a mount that can lower the TV down to a more comfortable height while viewing, but then retreat to its position above the mantle when finished. That solution is what MantleMount is all about.

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Other Tech
Marantz Brings Power-Line Networking to Audio
John Sciacca  |  Jan 06, 2006

Marantz ZR6001 A/V receiver and ZR4001 DAvED power-line audio networking client

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Other Tech
Marantz DaVed Power-Line Audio System
John Sciacca  |  May 01, 2006

Marantz introduced its DAvED (Digital Audio via Electrical Distribution) system at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, and I was immediately wowed by the concept of sending audio over a house's electrical wiring. So I jumped at the chance to play with a pre-production sample.

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