PrimaLuna Amplifiers

PrimaLuna means something, I can't remember specifically. To the owner of PrimaLuna electronics, if my memory serves me, its something poetic that references some aspect of his business philosophy. Regardless, as I spend more time with my PrimaLuna "Classic" I can tell you precisely what it means to me; engaging sound...period.

As the owner of www.newyorkhighendaudio.com, I have access to a lot of very good front end speakers like Totem's Wind Design, Canton's Reference 3.2 DC and Vienna Acoustic's Kiss...exceptional speakers all. The PrimaLuna Classic at $1,999.00 proves just what kind of a remarkable value it is; driving speakers effortlessly that cost ten thousand plus.

Tube amps can be picky and finicky things, but I have found my time with the "Classic" simple and quite frankly, flat out fun. Stuff sounds lively and easy to listen to. Something in the presentation drives you to want to listen to more music. I have been setting aside an hour or two every night to listen to music before I head off to bed. I  haven't done that in a long time. The PrimaLuna is auto biasing and I have spent no time at all messing with tubes and I don't give the amp any more than thirty seconds before I start driving it...hard. It doesn't seem to mind. Tubes do wear out and require swapping out...trying to figure out which tube is bad can be tricky but I imagine when one goes I might replace them all.

My biggest complaint might have been that the PrimaLuna does not come with a remote control. But I understand why the PrimaLuna folks don't want to muck up the simple point to point schematics of this elegantly engineered amp by tossing in a pesky attenuator. I also understand it helps to keep the value right at the "unreal" level. Those things considered, it doesn't mean much having to chase the volume control from my couch now and then. Ironically, the amp is so dynamic that you might misjudge the sound levels from dead silent to crescendo moments. However with the PrimaLuna these moments tend to be exciting as opposed to annoying which I have experienced with other dynamic amps.

Smooth is the word that best describes the overall performance of the PrimaLuna. Often times to achieve a smooth sound a piece of equipment will clip or roll off high frequencies and perhaps bloat the midrange to make the sound come across as more full. This can sacrifice resolution and present a less articulate soundstage. I have found that some people prefer this sound and we have always referred to it as sounding "warm". A good example of this sound has always been NAD which seems to be either love it or hate it with any of my clients who audition them. Because NAD gear has a warm presentation they match well with speakers that tend to be over articulate, bright, or sharp some may say. NAD fans will often say that's "too digital sounding", when criticizing an amp or speaker that has not rolled off the higher frequencies. On the flip side of the coin, I hear comments like "that's too bloated sounding" for the clients that are missing the higher frequencies. So the process goes as we work back and forth to match clients to appropriate gear matching their taste and budget. However, none of these particulars seem to come up when I audition PrimaLuna gear for clients. They are smooth, yet articulate, with loads of resolution and surprising bass extension. They have an excellent soundstage and are dynamic sounding without too much aggression. Every audition to date seems to just dissolve into conversations about the music. That's a clear indicator that the equipment has gotten out of the way and that the music has gotten so involving that it has elicited a response. When auditioning gear that's considered success.

PrimaLuna gear is flat out some of the most elegant gear, with excellent build quality inside and out, and best sounding gear at this price range...period.

SONOS Wireless Speakers

Sonos is a system of HiFi wireless speakers and audio components. It unites your digital music collection in one app that you control from any device. Play what you want in every room over a dedicated wireless network.

SONOS PLAY:5: Single-speaker streaming audio system; controlled from any iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or Android smartphone using a free app; impressive sound from a compact, single housing; elegant design; cuts down on cord clutter; streams Internet-based radio and audio services, plus your own digital music collection from any Mac, PC, or NAS drive; simple setup, particularly if you already own a Sonos system; expandable to up to 31 additional rooms (with the purchase of additional Sonos players).
The Sonos Play:5 shrinks the Sonos streaming music experience down to a compact single-speaker system with great sound, which you can control from any iOS device or Android smartphone.

SONOS PLAY:3: You can control the Sonos Play: 3 single-speaker streaming-audio system from any iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or Android smartphone using a free app. It offers good sound, its compact, elegant design cuts down on cord clutter, and it can stream Internet-based radio and audio services, plus your own digital music collection, from any Mac, PC, or NAS drive. Also, it's simple to set up, particularly if you already own a Sonos system, and linked Sonos players (purchased separately) can cover up to 31 additional rooms.
Following the success of its Play:5 networked speaker--formerly known as the S5--Sonos has added a smaller, less expensive speaker to its lineup, the Play:3. It's the most affordable Sonos streaming-audio component to date

SONOS PLAY:1: Wirelessly connect your PLAY:1 to a BRIDGE or another Sonos device. You can connect your SONOS PLAY:1 directly to your home internet router. To get started plug the PLAY:1 in to the nearest power outlet. The PLAY:1 has two perfectly tuned class D amplifiers, one 3.5" mid-woofer designed to faithfully reproduce mid-range frequencies and deliver deep bass, and one tweeter to create a crisp and accurate high-frequency response. No other wireless speaker packs so much deep, crystal clear HiFi sound into such a compact design.

SONOS SUB:  Fills an entire room with thick layers of deep, bottomless sound that let you hear and feel every chord, kick, splash and roll. You won’t just hear the difference our wireless subwoofer makes—you’ll feel it in your bones. Two force-cancelling speakers positioned face-to-face means all the sound and energy from the music comes through loud and clear, and none of it is lost in cabinet buzz or rattle. No wiring. No programming. Press one button, follow the simple prompts on your Controller and the system automatically adjusts audio settings to perfectly balance your SONOS SUB and the paired Sonos component for a flawlessly optimized, whole-room listening experience. Because it’s wireless and designed to perform perfectly, whether positioned horizontally or vertically, you can put the SUB anywhere you want in the room—even lying flat under a couch.

SONOS PLAYBAR: Complements HD television screens with richly textured HiFi sound. Wirelessly streams all the music on earth. The SONOS PLAYBAR Simple to set up, control and expand. Requires just two cords: one power cord, one optical cord (both included). Syncs with other Sonos speakers wirelessly. Understands and speaks most IR remote’s language and can be controlled by free apps for your Android®, iPhone® or iPad®. Plays all sources plugged in to your HDTV: cable/SAT boxes, Blu-Ray players, and video game consoles. If it’s connected to your HD TV, PLAYBAR will play it.

Bright Home Theater and Audio has been recommending and installing SONOS products since they first came out in 2004. It would be hard to find someone who knows more about SONOS systems than the installers at Bright Home Theater and Audio.

New LUTRON TouchPRO Wireless thermostat

Hello there Integrators.

This is exciting news .......check it out

Radek

Lutron has expanded its line of temperature controls with the addition of a co-branded Honeywell touchscreen thermostat called TouchPRO. The combination of Lutron and Honeywell technology offers consumers the convenience of controlling heating and cooling systems to save energy throughout the home. The thermostat communicates with Lutron systems that also control lights, shades and stand-by power from small appliances.

The TouchPRO Wireless thermostat, which features an intuitive touchscreen interface, is an easy way to add temperature control to your RadioRA® 2 and HomeWorks® QS control system. You can control this thermostat from keypads and mobile devices.

Hanging Plasmas / LCD's -- Articulated Mounts and Surround Sound

Hi, Bright Home Theater (BHT) recently installed a 50" plasma at a clients and he wanted the TV to be able to be seen from different parts of the apartment. Normally a Flat mount (flat and tight against the wall), or a Tilt mount (against the wall, but tilts anywhere from 7-15 degree's primarily to combat glare) are what we use.
However, Articulated mounts are cool, cool, cool. An Articulated mount is able to be pulled out from the wall a couple feet and can both tilt (as above) and turn left and right (some up to 180 degrees!) When needed or simply wanted there is no other answer for the Articulated mount.
However, there are some challenges!
1) Supporting the weight of the TV on an articulated mount when pulled out from the wall
2) Sound (How do you get sound that "sounds right" if you watching/listening from different locations?
First of all, our installation crew (Eric and Chris) know what to do to deal with the weight. Since they deal with brick, plaster or drywall they know a lot and have the tools to get the job done. Whether it is is reinforcing the wall with plywood or 2x4's or using the Hilti system they can get the job done.
Secondly: sound. We recommend Surround Sound Bars from Definitive Technologies and Polk Audio.
Here is a review of the Definitive Technology from CNET and Home Theater Review.
Surround Sound bars have 5 channels of sound in one speaker: that means the front right and left, the center and the two "rear" speakers. The sound bar on an articulated mount can be attached to the mount. This means the sound follows the TV. While not ideal, at least you can have a simulation of front back and center wherever you watch and listen from!
(Other reasons for surround sound bars are to decrease the cost and complexity of wire runs to rear speakers, to deal with rooms that have 3 sides of floor to ceiling windows, or simply to save space! et. al.)
The articulated mount and center channel mount we use most frequently are Sanus Single Arm or Dual Arm mount, with Center Channel Mount.
If you have any questions about mounting TV's and speakers please give us a call!
www.brighthometheater.com

BHT and Warranty's -- What We Do

What happens if a piece of BHT installed equipment goes bad? A client recently had a Universal Remote Control ( http://www.universalremote.com/ ) go bad. I can only think of two other times this happened, but both times in the past the client or their cleaning staff had dropped them. In this case it appeared to be a short.
To facilitate things we sent over a messenger to pick up the bad remote and sent over a full programmed new remote from stock. We will deal with the RMA number and sending the remote back to the manufacturer and getting a new one. It should take about 2 weeks.
In the meantime our client was out about a day without the remote.

Beginning Somthing New

Hi All, this is VP David DuPuy for Bright Home Theater. I want to type up a little something each week to give you some info on the latest technology we are recommending, buying or installing. I also would like to give you some insights into what it takes to install Audio and Video equipment in Manhattan!
This is meant to be informal and succinct (much like that sentence!) You will be able to check in and see some brand names of products we having great experiences with (or not so great) and hear real front line stories about New York installs.
No client names will ever be used however, only situations as they relate to A/V challenges and success's.
Thanks for reading and I will begin updating to give you product names and stories from the front!

Best HDTV: Plasma or LCD? DLP also exists!

Most clients who come to us assume LCD is a better technology than Plasma. Sometimes it takes quite some doing to educate consumers that Plasma is still the best out there.
CNET has posted their Best HDTV's overall and we find it a handy reference to look at with clients. We have included the link here.
Shortly, in future blogs I will be listing the differences between plasma and LCD and why LCD TV's are making up ground against plasma's and what is happening to plasma HDTV manufacturing.
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-high-definition-tvs/
The top 4 out of 5 HDTV's are plasma's!
Oh, a Samsung DLP weighs in at #11. However, watch out for Mitsubishi making strides in this category shortly. Mitsubishi has hired a primier consultant to upgrade color accuarcy, color balance and contrast (all more important to an excellent picture than resolution i.e. 1080p, concerns. More on that secret, too.)
BHT