Audio Video News

Sony Electronics is making a bold move into the custom home theater and multizone installation market with the introduction of New Home Entertainment Solutions, a product line that "will provide complete pre-integrated home entertainment solutions in three-, five-, and seven-room packages. Each solution will include Sony's industry-leading home entertainment products and full system integration," according to a March 16 announcement from Los Angeles.

The new solutions should deliver many benefits to home builders, A/V installers and homeowner in today's competitive real estate market, according to Bill Fox, senior v.p. for Sony's Consumer Systems and Applications division. By combining customized components, including pre-built racks and wiring, pre-programmed remote controls and keypads, installers should be able to save time and money, he emphasized. "These solutions provide the differentiating factor that builders and consumers are looking for," Fox said. "They will enable faster sales and more efficient installation process that cuts down on the hours and manpower required by the installers and builders. Consumers benefit with a high-quality A/V system specially designed and integrated into their new home at an affordable price."

Each Sony solution will include an A/V receiver, a CD and DVD player, a VCR, a surround sound speaker system, and a choice of WEGA high-definition televisions. The components are designed to work together, with their operations all integrated into one comprehensive custom remote controller. In addition, each room can be equipped with an in-wall keypad for independent zone control and for powering off the entire system.

By incorporating the solution into new home construction, builders should be able to sell a home where the wires are hidden, with the components fully installed and the speakers set into the walls. Fox estimates that consumers stand to save about 400% on labor costs for wiring alone versus a similar situation after move-in or during a renovation project. Included in all of Sony's packages are a choice of HDTV sets - 32"- or 36-" FD Trinitron WEGA direct view CRT TVs; Grand WEGA LCD-based rear projection sets in 42", 50", or 60" screen sizes; or the sleek 32" or 42" Plasma WEGA flat-panel displays.

Multizone systems: The NHS-301 three-room, one-zone solution includes an in-wall rack with a five-disc DVD/CD changer, VCR, a high-performance ES-series receiver, a choice of HDTV, speakers and a custom integrated remote controller all located in the main theater room. It includes in-wall intelligent volume control and speakers for audio distribution in each of the two additional rooms.

The NHS-502 is a five-room, two-zone solution. In addition to all the features of the NHS-301 it also offers a five-disc CD changer and in-wall keypad controls. Two-zones allow users to watch simultaneously a DVD movie in one part of the home and TV in another. In total, the NHS-502 offers four rooms that are audio/video capable and one room of audio.

The NHS-703, a seven-room, three-zone entertainment solution that boosts the home theater system with a 400-disc CD changer. With three separate zones for independent source selection, the solution includes four audio/video rooms and three audio rooms.

With the introduction of these systems, Sony also introduced a robust, multi-room, multi-zone distribution system with a powerful controller, designed to control and deliver an extraordinary audio/video experience in virtually every room--- all at the touch of a button. The new CAV-MS1000ES system is a single box solution that works seamlessly as an entertainment/distribution center and can accommodate even the most elaborate home theater entertainment set-ups. With its numerous inputs and outputs, it can connect to and control most audio and video components throughout the house, including CD and DVD players, VCRs, cable or satellite boxes, and high-definition receivers, as well as multiple televisions, enabling complete management of multiple components.

The CAV-MS1000ES control system's features include: advanced wireless 5.1-inch LCD touch-screen main controller with full two-way RF communication; four RS-232 ports (three rear and one front for PC setup) and one Control A1 II port for two way device control; independent IR (infrared) control for each source selection; six-zone control amplifier with 30 watts per channel with line level audio and video outputs; eight sources of audio and video with pass through capabilities; standard wiring configuration (speaker wire and CAT5) to each room; PC set-up software for simple integration - requires no additional low-level programming; six 12-volt triggers for advanced automation of additional components; full feedback auto-programming LCD keypads for each zone (up to 12 keypads, two for each zone); and content navigation for browsing through CD and DVD titles with delivery to touch-screen main controller and LCD keypads.

Available in April exclusively for the custom installation market, the new home entertainment solutions will range from $10,000 to $25,000. The CAV-MS1000ES multi-zone control system and the touch screen in-wall keypad will be available exclusively for the custom installation channel in June for about $4,600 and $400, respectively. See Sony A/V Designer for dealer listing and product information.