In November 2014, Amazon revealed their latest foray into the world of technology and electronics with the Amazon Echo. It serves as the first major-brand smart speaker, boasting a voice-driven interface capable of voice interaction, music playback, alarm setting, streaming podcasts, and providing weather, traffic, and other real time information. The Echo responds to the name “Alexa,” and provided the first peek into what the future could be for users around the world. It essentially took some of the basic functions iPhone users are familiar with from Siri, and adapted them to an in-home speaker.

Amazon Echo and Control 4 Combine Forces

Recently, Amazon Echo made the next step in its own evolution by integrating with the endlessly useful Control 4 system. When Control 4 burst onto the scene in 2003, it served as a leader in smart home automation and home entertainment systems. By meshing it with the Echo, homeowners are able to do much more with their Amazon device – adjust room temperature, shade position, lighting control, security management, and play music, among others.

Invisible speakers delivers unbelievable sound quality that emanates from the wall or ceiling, without any visible signs of a speaker. The space is filled with breathtaking music that seemingly comes from nowhere.  Invisible speakers are speakers that get installed in walls and ceilings, then are covered with sheetrock and painted or papered over, and yes, they can sound great.

See Also:  Whole House Audio Systems

If you ask an interior decorator about loudspeakers, he or she will tell you they should be heard and not seen. Maybe some home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles would disagree, but a lot of people hold the opinion that speakers in a whole housse audio system should be as hidden as possible. Imagine if we could actually have invisible speakers?

Well we can show you the solution to this age old problem.  Speakers can be invisible, at least in the strictest sense, meaning they’re in the room, you just don’t see them.

There are two main ways to make a speaker actually invisible, and both involve putting it behind something else.  The first, and most ingenious way, is with a kind of in-wall speaker that actually sits completely flush against the drywall (or other wall material), and then gets plastered over and painted so the speaker becomes 100 percent a part of the wall—-no visible grill.  The other way is to hide it behind something that is visible, such as a piece of art or behind a mirror.

Atlanta Audio & Automation offers a range of smart-home solutions—including audio, video, lighting, temperature control, security and communications—that let you control your home’s entertainment.  Our award-winning smart systems by Control4 seamlessly integrate into your home giving a new lifestyle experience by connecting everything from climate control to security and manageable by remotes or mobile device. Our entertainment systems can be custom built for projects from single rooms to entire homes and the benefits are endless when you add together comfort, savings, convenience and peace of mind.

See Also:  What is it Like to Live in a Connected Home?

We’ve combined our professional expertise with solutions from top manufacturers like Control4, Sony, LG and Sonos. As we make entertainment systems easy to use and sound fantastic, homes become more comfortable, energy efficient and families feel secure. Inspired by ideas that promise comfort, Atlanta Audio & Automation has been delivering personalized entertainment solutions for homes and businesses in the Atlanta area for over 18 years. Contact us or visit our experience center and we can give your home the smart it deserves.

“We offer entertainment and automation solutions for a smarter home.”   Come visit us at our showroom, and we can demo how home automation can simplify your life.

Sports fans rejoice! Football season is almost here and you’re in for a memorable season. But the one thing that would make it even more perfect is watching the game in the comfort of your very own Georgia home theater. As the season draws near, it’s time to start planning how you’re going to catch every second of the game. In this blog, we’ll take you through some of the smartest solutions for upgrading your system with smart AV. Read on for more.

See Also:  Set up for Spring Championships With a Smart Home Theater

Choose an Aesthetic

Ok, so you know you want a man cave, but you don’t know how you want it to look. Well, that’s perfectly fine, but you’re going to want to get an idea before your designer breaks ground. Whether you want a warm and cozy den, or the ultimate sports bar feel, you just have to keep in mind that the materials and textures you use will ultimately affect the way your AV gear looks and sounds.

For instance, you can integrate rocky textured walls for a nice, modernist throwback facade, but that may disperse your audio more than you would prefer. On the other hand, you can choose a sleek, metallic sheen for the walls, but the flat, reflective surfaces could bounce sound and light right back at you.

Just about every loves to listen to music. If you’re a fan of smart technology, you’ve probably already considered upgrading your Atlanta home with distributed audio via a whole house sound system installation. You’ve probably also debated whether or not to go with a wired system or a wireless setup. In this blog, we’ll show you why it’s smarter to invest in the former, and how it’s possible to distribute crystal clear audio across your entire property. Read on to learn more.

See Also: From Analog to Digital: What’s Playing in Your Home?

Why Choose a Hardwired System?

You probably already know we love Sonos. There are few better ways to enjoy distributed, wireless audio than with a Sonos system. But when given the choice between wired and wireless, we almost always prefer a hardwired connection. Not only are they more reliable, but they sound better too.

You see, while wireless sound systems seem like they might be more convenient to some listeners, their performance is almost entirely dependent on the condition of the network and where they’re placed. A hardwired system never has a problem when it comes to thick walls and multiple device connections.