Color Us Impressed with Sonance’s Incredible Array of Architectural Speakers

One of the fun things about being a technology integrator is seeing all the new technology and products coming down the pike. And when we see these things at the source as we did with Sonance, it's even more fun! Don't worry, it's not all fun and games – it's all in the name of offering you better products and solutions. 

Founded in the early 1980s, Sonance is one of the true pioneers in architectural audio. Today, their line consists of a full set of speakers that hide discreetly inside homes and gardens while providing the type of audio performance that belies their size. Recently the company joined forces with James Loudspeaker, another industry pioneer, bringing a new level of audio performance and customization to architectural speakers.

Our Charlotte, NC, team visited the Sonance speaker studio at their beautiful Southern California home base. We’re excited by what we saw, and we want to share more with you about our experience below. 

Architectural Speakers Your Clients Will Hear but Not See

As a design or build professional, you’re always looking for a discreet way to incorporate the latest AV and technology that doesn’t interfere with design and style. For many years, architectural speakers have provided good sound quality with a modest appearance that didn’t stand out. 

But what if you have a discerning client, one who demands high-performance audio that’s practically invisible? It might seem like a tall order, but that’s exactly what you’ll get from Sonance and James speakers. Sonance is a longtime pioneer in architectural audio, and recently the company joined forces with James, bringing a new level of audio performance to architectural speakers. Discover more about these two high-end solutions for your Charlotte, NC projects by reading below. 

Our goal at The Integrated Home is to make your life simpler, more fun, and of course safe. When it comes to audio, Charlotte homeowners want quality and ease of use. Your best option is to go to an expert—not the supermarket. When you buy a speaker off the shelf, you won’t get the benefits of enjoying music in every room, expanded music library, and of course custom design. When you work with our team, we show you all the details and benefits of using whole house music. In this blog we highlight the perks of a professional system. Stick around after the jump for more.

SEE ALSO: An Expert’s Guide to Outdoor Video

1. Hide Everything

Buy a basic speaker from a store, take it home and then you have to figure out where it goes. First, you locate an outlet to plug in the speaker but if you don’t have a table or a shelf you have to re-arrange your furniture. Then there are those ugly wires. You saw an ad online for this cool, hip speaker but it doesn’t look the same in your bedroom. When it comes time to have friends over for a party, you discover you can’t play the same song in every room at the same time to provide the music at the same level throughout the house. All of these issues are confronted with a whole house system.

One of the best features of a professionally designed system is the ability to make your speakers disappear. We can install invisible speakers in the walls, or place them in the ceiling so they save space and get those wires out of the way. Either style will eliminate clutter and enhance your home design.

2. Control Your Music Anytime, Anywhere

Most individuals make convenience a top priority when it comes to music—that's why digital music sales have skyrocketed over the past decade. However, our team will work with you to connect all of your music sources whether your library is entirely digital, you're a die-hard vinyl collector, or simply can't let go of that coveted CD collection. The beauty of using an integrated music system is that you can easily switch music sources using a mobile device or touch screen. Stream internet radio, like Spotify and Pandora, then switch over to your iTunes account or turntable. All you have to do is select the source, playlist or artist, the room, and then press play using your smartphone, tablet, or smart touch screen.

Here's a common scenario: you've purchased or accessed music in different places, causing your music library to be disjointed and unorganized. With so many different music platforms today, it can be confusing to manage your library and also access it quickly and easily. The good news is that technology has advanced immensely allowing you to gather all your songs together into one easy-to-use system. With a whole house audio system – whether it's by Control4, Sonos, or any other audio company – you can stream free music anytime and anywhere in your Charlotte, NC house, or play your personal collection. We created this guide to help you understand how we can simplify your listening experience at home – and give you some organizing tips as well.

SEE ALSO: Prepare for summer fun with outdoor audio video in your Lake Norman home

Seamlessly Stream Music

Music is so easy to access today because we have free stations on the Internet available to us, like Pandora, Spotify, and local radio channels. There are also high-quality music sources that you can pay for and stream in your home. But what's the difference between them and how do you access them easily? The good news is that if you have a Control4 smart home, the system comes with built-in music services, including TuneIn, Deezer, Pandora, and TIDAL. If you have Sonos, it comes with 43 sources, including SiriusXM, Amazon Music, and Rhapsody. Here's a breakdown of how some of these sources differ.

Pandora: Free

Bring These Innovative Speakers to Your Whole-House Audio System

At The Integrated Home, we work with a variety of innovative technologies to bring our customers the best in audio and video entertainment. That’s why we love working with Monitor Audio products when designing and installing whole-house audio systems.

Monitor Audio is a British company known for hi-fi loudspeaker designs, offering more than 40 years of stereo, surround sound, and architectural speakers to clients across the globe. The brand continually innovates the industry and is the world expert in metal dome driver development, whereas many other companies use plastic or paper because it’s easier to shape.

Read on below to learn about a few of Monitor Audio’s innovative offerings and why they’d fit perfectly into any room of your Charlotte, NC home.

We get a lot of questions about the different types of wireless music systems available. The truth is the answers often have to do with your lifestyle, routine, budget, and home structure. While our team can certainly provide a unique solution for you, no matter what you situation is like, we do want homeowners to know exactly what they can encounter during an installation and stay knowledgeable about what is available. This blog will be a great resource for those of you who have a lot of questions about home audio.

Do I have to upgrade my Internet service to enjoy wireless music?

You may or may not have to upgrade your Internet service. However, problems with streaming music often have more to do with the quality of your home network, not you Internet Service Provider. Simply upgrading your service to a faster speed may not do the trick. Buying a better modem or router and working with an expert to strategically place your equipment and set-up the network is a better option. If you regularly stream a lot of music or video, then you’ll need some kind of Internet upgrade. We can give you an assessment and some recommendations.

What kind of wiring is involved?

Chances are you may have already seen school supplies in the aisles at the store. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy before the fall hits. And an added benefit of living in Charlotte, North Carolina is that the weather never gets too cold, and you can enjoy your backyard all-year round. In this blog, we have some tips on how to entertain friends and family outside with outdoor audio video. Keep reading to start getting ready for your next fun gathering. 

SEE ALSO: Prepare for Summer Fun with Outdoor Audio Video

Pool Controls

First off, there’s nothing more fun than jumping into a cool pool on a hot summer day. And taking a midnight swim is equally fun when you’re with friends. We can integrate your pool and hot tub controls into your smart home so that you can adjust the settings with a mobile device. Change the temperature of the pool to make it cooler when it’s sweltering outside, and give your guests a convenient remote to change the hot tub settings so they can enjoy the jets and soothing hot water. If you do decide to take a swim in the evening, automated lighting will brighten your activity. Turn on lights inside and outside the pool to stay safe and get those laps in. We can tie in sensors so your pool area automatically illuminates when someone walks up to it too. Easy and convenient controls will certainly enhance your summer plans and get-togethers.

Movie Nights Under the Stars

Take advantage of the summer nights by enjoying a movie under the stars. We can set up an outdoor projector and screen, or install a flat-screen TV on your patio so you can watch your favorite movies and gaze at the sky at the same time. Our outdoor TVs prevent glare with special technology, and also resist water and extreme temperatures. So you can rest knowing they won’t get damaged by the elements and your investment is protected. Whether you simply want to be able to watch a baseball game on the patio by the pool, or if you want a large screen for big events, we can install a solution that matches your unique needs.

Dance or Relax to Your Favorite Tunes

It definitely takes a professional AV installer and a high-quality audio system to truly make your backyard sound beautiful. We’ll create plans to lay out the speakers and subwoofers in exact locations so you can hear the sound full and loud no matter where you are standing outside – or swimming in the pool for that matter. Our team can even install speakers in the water so you can hear the music as you do the butterfly. We can also hide your speakers in the foliage and pick colors that blend in with the surroundings so you won’t even notice the equipment amidst your outdoor haven. Your music system will be integrated into your smart home so you have complete access to your entire music library, radio stations, and streaming platforms. Anyone will be able to easily change the tune, adjust the TV, or increase the jet power in the hot tub with the same app on a mobile device.

Lake Norman homeowners love to enjoy the water, like water skiing, boating, or just sitting by the lake and enjoying the view. But we understand that sometimes you want a change of scenery. Many families own second homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains to go hiking and skiing, or down by the beach to have fun in ocean. It’s crucial to keep a close eye on all your properties, and the good news is that a smart home installation can help. With smart security features and energy management capabilities, you can keep you vacation home in the best condition. Keep reading this blog to learn more. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Signs Your Smart Home Needs and Update

Protect Your Home with Smart Security

It’s no surprise that music has proven positive effects on stress levels, moods, and well-being. We all recognize the blissful feeling we experience when music’s turned on at home, whether we’re grilling outdoors or playing a board game. But if your household is like most, you may only have one or two speakers in one room, likely the kitchen or living room. You may find yourself forgetting to turn it on, and weeks may go by before you use the speaker again.

But what if your entire home was equipped with speakers that synch together? As you walk from one room to another, your favorite album will follow you wherever you go. To envision what life is like with a multi-room home audio video system, continue reading below. You may realize that whole home AV is the upgrade that your Lake Norman, NC house needs.  

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Use Whole Home Audio

Mornings with Music

Whether you’re an early bird or night owl, we all face resistance waking up from time to time. Inspire wakeful mornings with soft, folksy playlists emitted from your whole-home audio system, whether they’re in-wall speakers, floor-standing speakers, or smaller bookshelf models. From your control system app, you can schedule speakers to start playing music at a set time, so rather than endure an annoying alarm, you’ll be greeted by pleasant tunes.

With a quality multi-room audio system, you can elevate any get-together, event, or relaxing time simply by pressing a button. Add whole-home audio your Lake Norman, NC, living space and watch how it transforms every listening experience for everyone.

Whether you’re rocking out to the latest album from your favorite artist or wanting to relax by the pool with a podcast or audiobook, you can optimize your audio system for any occasion.

In this blog, we’ll take you through the top ways you can integrate your whole house audio for any event or circumstance. Keep reading below to find out more!

SEE ALSO: WANT MUSIC PLAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR WHOLE PROPERTY?

Your Day-to-Day

You can add some spark to your regular routine by having pop and dance tunes play all throughout your home while you go about your day.

With a quality multi-room audio system, you can elevate any get-together, event, or relaxing time simply by pressing a button. Add whole-home audio your Lake Norman, NC, living space and watch how it transforms every listening experience for everyone.

Whether you’re rocking out to the latest album from your favorite artist or wanting to relax by the pool with a podcast or audiobook, you can optimize your audio system for any occasion.

In this blog, we’ll take you through the top ways you can integrate your whole house audio for any event or circumstance. Keep reading below to find out more!

SEE ALSO: WANT MUSIC PLAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR WHOLE PROPERTY?

Your Day-to-Day

You can add some spark to your regular routine by having pop and dance tunes play all throughout your home while you go about your day.

When the New Year arrives, we all take a hard look at what we can improve. We reflect on past memories and set goals for the upcoming year. Perhaps you feel you need to learn how to relax more when you’re not at work, or maybe you want to start exercising more often. Whatever your goals are, music can help! Many studies confirm that music benefits our physical and mental health. Music can motivate you to work out harder, improve your sleep quality, help you cope with pain, and reduce stress among many other health benefits. In this blog, we give you some ideas on how to use whole house music system in your Lake Norman, NC home to help achieve your goals in 2017.

SEE ALSO: How to Expand Your Music Library with Whole House Audio

Party

Good music is an essential ingredient to a fun party. But have you ever had trouble setting up an audio system the day of the event? It’s definitely a buzz-kill when your friends and family are ready to dance to some tunes, but you can’t get the audio system to work. Additionally, if you own just one system, you may have to move it outside or into another room where the main events are happening, which is extra time and effort.

However, when you have a whole house music system, you can turn on your music playlists with just the press of a button and stream it to any room in your house--even outside! All you have to do is pick a source, like Spotify, or create a custom playlist for your party with your personal collection, and then save it to a smart home scene for a later date.

How does your household currently listen to music? Maybe you use an Amazon speaker in the kitchen or connect your media to computer speakers. You may even be an audiophile with a dedicated listening room. But only through whole home audio can you tie music to every part of your day. 

In addition to improving your mood, a whole home audio system will enhance your Charlotte, NC house in more ways than one. Continue reading to see if multi-room audio is right for your family!

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Use Your Whole-Home Audio

1. Music in Every Room

Through either wired or wireless solutions, an audio professional can help you build a speaker system that syncs the same music in every room. Be entertained by your favorite playlists while cooking, taking a bath, or reading a book out in the sun. As you walk from room to room, audio will follow you so that you won’t miss a minute of your podcasts or the best part of your favorite song. Your speakers can connect to your TV, too, so you can still hear the movie’s dialogue while you grab another glass of wine.

2. Entertain for Parties

Your house will become the spot for events with high-quality audio pulsing in every room. With a control system like Control4, you can manage every speaker from the same app. Pause the music to call everyone to eat, or adjust the volume to each room in one tap. Perhaps you want to set the outdoor speakers a little louder for dancing but fix the kitchen to a softer level so guests can chat. Party-planning will be easier than ever!