OTHER TECH

REQUST

iQ Multiroom Audio Distribution System October '07

As an equipment reviewer, I have systems going in and out of my life on a regular basis. Some I like, some I really like, and others I can't wait to send back. But occasionally, a component makes such an impression that it leaves a hole in my heart when the time comes to return it. ReQuest's iQ system ($8,649, as tested) was one of those components, making it an obvious choice for Custom Product of the Year. The iQ is an eight-zone/eight-source audio system capable of serving up four music streams simultaneously using ReQuest's renowned server technology. Other features include a 15-inch touchpanel, a Web interface for controlling the system from anywhere in the world, maybe the ultimate iTunes interface, and a beautiful music-server/ control interface. And far from being just another multiroom amplifier, the iQ's amp is an 80-watts-into-16-channels monster that produced the best sound I've ever heard from a distributed-audio system. ReQuest has already improved the system since my test report, making iQ even smarter. With new "widgets," the touchscreen can display Web cams, stock quotes, and local weather forecasts - plus there's now an optional wireless touchscreen controller. Simply put, the iQ system looks and sounds great, and it's fun to use. Put it in your home, and you'll enjoy your music more often. request.com -John Sciacca

PHILIPS

Pronto TSU9600 Touchscreen Control Panel June '07

With hundreds of remote controls available, what does it take for one to be considered the best? First, it's gotta look good. Strike that - it's gotta look great. Philips's Pronto TSU9600 ($1,299) has that in spades. Even when just sitting in its charging cradle, the Pronto is stunning. But when in use, the 33/4-inch color display - with best-in-class 640 x 480 resolution - delivers ultra-sharp, super-bright graphics with clarity that will make your 1080p HDTV look shabby. Second, a world-class remote needs to be customizable and powerful enough to handle any system, no matter how complex. Again, the Pronto steps up. In fact, Philips had more than 250 custom installers sit in on Pronto's design board to ensure that it could deliver the goods. The new ProntoEdit Professional software allows the look and layout to be tweaked to suit any taste, and wireless extenders use Wi-Fi to control gear located in other rooms. But even that isn't enough. To be considered the best, a remote must have some extra razzle-dazzle. For the Pronto, that means out-of-the-box control and feedback for Lutron lighting systems, Windows Media Center PCs, and Escient, iMerge and XiVA media servers. All of these features make the TSU9600 a worthy addition to the Pronto line, and a welcome addition to any system. www.pronto.philips.com -John Sciacca

CHRIS WYLLIE

S.E.A.L. Solutions Sound Beach, NY

Being a great custom installer is often as much about being a master diplomat as it is about having great technical chops. Chris Wyllie, owner of S.E.A.L. Solutions in Sound Beach, New York (homesealsolutions.com) demonstrated both his diplomacy and his technical acumen when he installed an all but invisible whole-house system for two particularly demanding clients in Manhattan's Chelsea district ("S.E.A.L. of Approval," October). Featuring a JVC DLA-RS1U projector, a drop-down 159-inch Da-Lite screen, Klipsch ceiling speakers, and Draper blackout shades, the home theater is undetectable when not in use, but quickly comes to the fore when its services are called for. The gear throughout the rest of the elaborate two-story apartment is integrated into the carefully designed décor with similar skill, resulting in one of the most elegant and seamless installations we've ever seen. Also factor in the stamina and saint-like patience required from Wyllie and his team by the perfectionist owners (whose stream of notes and e-mails continue to this day), and it's easy to see why we've named Chris Wyllie our installer of the year.