John Sciacca

CEDIA 2013
A Cube Even the Borg Would Envy
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
When you think Definitive Technology, you probably think large, monolithic tower speakers or giant cube subwoofers. While the company would be OK with that, they have branched beyond the large home speaker into the portable market. Definitive Technology launched its portable speaker line-up with the terrific sounding Sound Cylinder, and they expanded their offerings this year by introducing The Cube. The Cube is a 7.7-inch black, uh, cube using tri-polar technology to deliver big sound across a large listening area. The cube features five 1-1/4-inch mid-high frequency drivers, one 5-1/4-inch woofer and 80-watts of total power. It can run off AC power, but for hi-fi on-the-go, the built-in Lithium Ion battery can deliver up to 10 hours of listening. Users can connect a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack or beam music to The Cube wirelessly via Bluetooth aptX technology. Also handy is an integrated rubberized handle in the back of The Cube, meaning that you can easily take your music with you when you get assimilated.
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CEDIA 2013
Crestron Expands Automation to Samsung Smart TVs
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
Crestron’s message this CEDIA is, “Don’t just interface…integrate” where the home is a single, integrated solution with all components designed to seamlessly work together, and the products at their booth speak to that at every turn. One of the coolest new features is a brand new integration with Samsung’s Smart TVs. Available as an app through the Samsung download store, people can now use their Samsung TV remote to control their Crestron automation system. By pulling up a translucent graphic overlay, there are options for controlling shades, lights, temperature, etc. Also, the Crestron system can send announcements to the TV that appear on screen such as “Front Doorbell Ringing.”
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CEDIA 2013
Rediscover Your Movie Collection With Cinema One
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
Kaleidescape Brings Movies to Life With Cinema One Kaleidescape demonstrated their latest product, the Cinema One, which brings the movie and music streaming performance of the company’s regarded Premier line to a far more affordable – sub $4,000 – price point. (Expect a full review of the Cinema One from Darryl Wilkinson.) Kaleidescape also had one of the sweetest booth giveaways at the Expo, drawing a card each day at 4 PM and giving the lucky winner a Cinema One! Also new from the company is the addition of cover art view to their awesome iPad control app. Now users can browse through their movie and music collections using the same cover art view that had previously only been available on the on-screen GUI. Want to shuffle the titles around? Simply give your Pad a shake.
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CEDIA 2013
Z-Wave Delivers Automation from the Top of the World!
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
Proving the you’re never too far away from home to be in control, the Z-Wave Alliance sponsored a Himalayan expedition where climber Mariusz Malkowski went to the top of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. When Malkowski reached the 29,609 foot summit, he Skype’d in live to the Expo show floor on a satellite phone. Malkowski said it was midnight his time with local temps at minus 40-degrees! Using his satellite phone, he was able to check the status of several Z-Wave devices, and after speaking to the assembled crowd for a moment, he then unlocked a Kwikset Z-Wave enabled door lock, and turned on Fibaro Z-Wave enabled lights and then adjusted his Remotec Z-Wave thermostat. Definite proof that you are never too far away from home for technology to keep you in touch!
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CEDIA 2013
Zipato Delivers Automation in a Box
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013  |  Published: Sep 27, 2013
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CEDIA 2013
Linn Delivers High-End Scotch and Audio
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013  |  Published: Sep 27, 2013
Linn is celebrating nearly 40 years in business, and the original turntable the company produced – the Sondek LP12 – was designed with the philosophy that any information lost at the turntable – the source – was lost. It didn’t matter how good the amp or the speakers, if the information was lost, it was unrecoverable. To celebrate the company’s 40th Anniversary, they partnered with Highland Park to create a very limited edition Sondek LP12 that is crafted from the solid oak casks used to mature Highland Park whisky. There will only be 40 of the turntables made, and each will include a bottle of 40-year Highland Park, also limited to just 40 bottles.
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CEDIA 2013
Clare Controls Has Automation that CLIQs
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013
Clare Controls motto for CLIQ is “zero wires, zero config, zero headaches” meaning that it should offer both users and installers a better experience. The new CLIQ.host module represents a new, lower price point for the company’s cloud based automation solutions.
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CEDIA 2013
Sonance Visual Performance Series Looks as Good as it Sounds
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013
Sonance invented the architectural speaker category in 1983 and this year the company is showing more products - 50 - than ever before. The company launched the Visual Performance series back in 2007 and the aesthetic with micro-bezel and magnetic grille was a real revolution to the in-wall speaker design. This year, Sonance has given the Visual Performance series a radical sonic makeover resulting in in-wall speakers that the company says will sound as good as freestanding speakers.
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CEDIA 2013
If Tony Stark Docked His iPad, He'd Use This
John Sciacca  |  Sep 26, 2013
Many people have turned to the iPad as the controller of choice for their home's automation system. Using systems from the likes of Control4, Crestron, Savant, or URC, you can turn even the humblest iPad into a powerful automation controller capable of adjusting lights, HVAC, alarm, TV and about anything else you can think of. But where to you put the iPad when you're not using it? Do you just plop it on a sofa cushion or leave it on a counter somewhere until the next time you need it, and then hope the battery isn't dead?
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Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews
Test Report: NuVo Technologies Wireless Audio System
John Sciacca  |  Jul 03, 2013

As a custom installer, I hear a lot of requests, andone of the things people ask for most is wireless audio. Sending music around the home without the hassle, cost, or mess associated with long runs of wire is the modern American audio dream.

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