The Art of Simplicity and the AVA Cinema Remote

I’ve been frustrated in recent years with the lack of innovation in the handheld remote category. It’s as if consumer electronics manufacturers think we’re all perfectly happy using our smartphones and a bunch of button-riddled plastic candy bars to negotiate the endless audio and video options at our fingertips. If anything, 2024 should be a […]

Leon Mera Sound Sconce Review: A Bold New Approach to Home Ambience

I love it when design and function merge seamlessly. The new Leon Mera Sound Sconce is a great example of blending these elements by combining sound and lighting in an attractive wall fixture effortlessly accenting whatever’s around it. I had no idea something like this existed until my gaze was recently transfixed at a trade show. After […]

Reviewing the new Sonos Arc Ultra and Companion Sub 4

Sonos has taken it on the chin lately. Admittedly, some of it is well deserved. From the unforced error of fixing an app that wasn’t broken to a solidly tone-deaf response, it’s been hard to root for these guys lately. That being said, I’m still a big fan of the Sonos hardware ecosystem and have […]

April Newsletter – Lighting That Transforms—For Every Season

Secure your home. Set the mood. Lighting for every occasion. This month, we spoke with Mike Brinson from LightScapes and Steph Vaughan from Hill Residential Systems. Together, they highlighted how lighting transforms your home—inside and out—improving both function and beauty. Why Lighting? Why Now? Spring is here—freshly cut grass, sizzling grills, and bonfires with friends. […]

Security Starts at the Street

The latest home security products stop would-be burglars before they get into the house. Electronic security systems have been in our homes for over 100 years. For much of that time, it has been based on the same foundational principles: bad guys break into your house, a siren blares, and, if monitored, the system calls […]

Reviewing DMF Artafex 4″ Integrator Downlighting

While lighting innovation is moving at a dizzying pace, the age of LEDs has sent us reeling backward a bit in our ability to experience light quality inside that mimics the outdoors. Ever since the demise of incandescent bulbs, manufacturers have been chasing the elusive color rendering index (CRI) score of 100. While most builder-grade […]

March Newsletter – Power Outages Are on the Rise—Is Your Home Prepared?

It’s actually easier than you might think. This month we got the chance to speak with Ian Roberts, VP of Product Marketing at Savant Systems. Sharing with us the magic behind smart energy solutions and how to integrate smart power into your home. Investing in Smart Power Brings Smart ROI Real quick, what is smart power? […]