OTHER TECH

Installations: A Place In The Sun Page 5

•Photo Gallery

System Option FOUR
JBL Synthesis Four same as Synthesis HT, except: •Two S4VC front L/R flush-mount speakers •S4HC flush-mount center speaker
Most buyers stick with one of the stock systems they've seen demonstrated in a model home - which isn't too surprising when you consider that few of the Andalusia houses are the owners' primary homes. "They tend to go with the systems we have on display because they work so well," Hudson says. "When an owner comes into town on a weekend with family and friends, the most important thing is that the system work no matter what. When we explain why we've chosen these brands, and that we designed the systems so that we can stand behind them with a level of support unmatched in the industry, the buyers get it and understand the value we're offering."

Service, of course, is crucial for upscale customers, and Radio Active's close relationship with JBL has established the installer as an important customer. "How JBL backs us has a lot to do with our ability to deliver great service for our customers," Hudson says. "Because we're really partners with JBL, they quickly get us any replacements or parts we need."

Hudson expects to see more partnerships between manufacturers, installers, and developers. "Developers are realizing that homebuyers are becoming more sophisticated," he says. "They also realize they have to differentiate themselves from the other developers in this increasingly competitive market." One way to do that is to offer aesthetically pleasing, high-performance prepackaged or turnkey systems. "Home theaters are becoming just like Sub-Zero refrigerators, Viking ranges, and Kohler fixtures. A buyer at a certain price level now expects his new home to have fiber-optic high-speed Internet access and to be wired for whatever entertainment options they want. As installers become more successful at selling these luxury goods, developers are getting more involved because they see it as something that can help them sell their homes."

RADIO ACTIVE 46805 Dune Palms Rd. La Quinta, CA 92253 760-777-1787 radioactiveav.com

Photo Gallery Back to Homepage What's New on S&V

X