WEBVTT
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00:00:15.679Hello and welcome to the Inside DI podcast for Wednesday the 29th of July 2026.
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00:00:19.359I'm your host, Stuart Burgess, and with me as always is my co-host, Mr.
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00:00:20.160Simon Gregory.
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00:00:21.120Simon, how are you?
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00:00:22.239Good afternoon, Stuart.
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00:00:23.359I'm very well, thank you.
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00:00:27.199We are live and in Living Colour, and we are recording, which uh is the main thing.
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00:00:31.519Yeah, well if anybody listened to the last couple of weeks, I think it was.
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00:00:36.479Uh first of all, I said July when we're at sorry, I said June when we're actually in July.
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00:00:39.439I I tried to cut it out, I just couldn't get rid of it.
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00:00:41.600Um so we are definitely in July.
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00:00:46.320Um and if you are listening to this, you should be listening to this on Wednesday, the 29th of July.
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00:00:50.399And uh and yes, and I remember to hit the record button this week.
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00:00:52.960So we are live and ready to rock and roll.
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00:00:54.880So uh so how are you, Mr.
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00:00:55.439Gregory?
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00:00:57.359What have you what have you been up to recently?
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00:00:59.119Yes, I'm very well, thank you.
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00:01:02.079Uh the family are away, so uh I'm living the dream.
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00:01:05.120So uh I'm a bachelor once again, which is uh actually quite nice.
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00:01:10.640We're gonna play games and watch movies and uh yeah, had a nice big tomahawk steak all to myself uh uh the weekend.
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00:01:12.079So uh that that was beautiful.
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00:01:15.920But uh one by one the kids uh and the wife are coming back uh next week.
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00:01:17.200So uh no, what day we're now?
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00:01:17.519Monday.
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00:01:18.879So yeah, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
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00:01:21.040They're all due back, so uh one at a time.
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00:01:22.719But uh yeah, no, I'm very very well.
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00:01:24.400Have you been on your own all weekend then?
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00:01:28.799Uh since Saturday evening time, so uh yeah, that's good.
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00:01:30.159I've enjoy I've enjoyed myself.
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00:01:34.000It's like a mini holiday just for me, which uh I I'd recommend to everybody.
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00:01:48.000I love the family dearly, but well that to be honest, that's why I like like going away sometimes to like the CD at Tech Summits and uh ISE, and then I think I said the last pod, I'm probably not gonna be able to get out to Denver.
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00:01:51.280Um, but I have registered for press passes for Ether.
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00:01:54.879So if they come through, I've quickly looked at flights.
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00:02:00.239So I might go out to Germany for the I think it's two days they have as their media days.
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00:02:06.319So I might go out there for one or two nights because I reckon it's all in all it's could probably gonna cost me about 500 pounds.
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00:02:09.919Um, where uh Denver was gonna be more like five grand.
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00:02:12.719Does that include a segue to get around though, Stuart?
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00:02:14.639I told you it's 11 halls.
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00:02:21.360No, just just my just my painful knees and uh and finding some poor schmuck to push me around in a wheelchair.
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00:02:23.039That's what you need, definitely around EFA.
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00:02:24.000But no, it's a really good show.
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00:02:30.400So uh but yeah, no, apart from that, we uh we went to saw uh CAVD as well this week, um, which was uh very nice.
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00:02:35.439Went over to see uh the launch of uh their Crick's little cinema that they've got.
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00:02:40.879Um the uh MX20 Mark II, uh, which uh is a very nice system.
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00:02:44.719Um yeah, no, Jamie there was uh was was showing us around.
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00:02:48.319We're at uh somebody's house as well, which I think was is is very nice.
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00:02:49.759It's more real world.
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00:02:51.759Um so uh yeah, we had a good day.
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00:02:52.479What do you think?
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00:02:54.479Yeah, so yeah, we were at Liam's house.
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00:03:02.800So fundamentally um uh Jamie has his facilities in uh Marlow, which they have the cinema in.
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00:03:20.800Um, then they have uh a few about two or three different rooms, different spaces there, plus the offices, and then literally probably about 20-25 minute drive from there, uh, they've got Liam's house, which Liam's been kind enough to work with Jamie to basically put some garden audio in.
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00:03:25.120You know, it's almost like let's put it in a real-world environment, so actually in someone's house.
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00:03:34.800So they've got garden audio outside, and then they had uh the Crick system downstairs in Liam's cinema with the nice races sim that he didn't have switched on.
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00:03:39.360Um but uh I I was yeah, I mean I thought I thought it was a really good system.
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00:03:51.520Um I mean I've we've done a couple of Crick systems over the last 12 months uh with another integrator, and uh I've I've really enjoyed them and I yeah, I I'm I'm happy that Crix has gone with Jamie.
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00:03:55.360I think it will be a good brand for them, very hands-on.
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00:04:04.960Um, you know, working with um uh Crix directly, I think he's gonna get some really good products into some really good integrators' hands.
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00:04:20.079And if you're not familiar with Crix or Dead, I say if you've heard Crix before, do hook up with Jamie because I think that unfortunately, one of the facilities over that neck of the woods, I never really liked the Crick system in it.
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00:04:26.160In the other system near you, I think the Crick system sounding really good, but obviously now it's with Jamie.
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00:04:32.480Do go and hear it because you it's the Mark II system uh and it fits that room absolutely perfectly.
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00:04:33.839And I was very, very impressed.
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00:04:34.639What did you think?
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00:04:36.480Yeah, you hit the nail on the head there.
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00:04:39.600Uh similar thoughts to yourself about uh previous locations.
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00:04:40.800I was never that impressed.
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00:04:46.240Um, it got tweaked a lot, and uh yeah, it wasn't really uh suited for for that room, maybe.
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00:04:49.360But uh yeah, no, the MX20 system, it's designed.
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00:04:55.680Uh I've got the little sheet up here in front of me, it's designed for four meters to 70 metres, can do up to 95 dB as well.
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00:05:07.759So um the Mark II version, I actually thought was again being in a real well-weld environment really helped uh me personally, but I also think clients, because I think we can take our clients there as well.
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00:05:14.800Um, but as a dealer, I really enjoyed sort of sitting down almost like in one of your clients' own demonstration facilities.
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00:05:15.839You know, it was quite quite nice.
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00:05:26.800I actually sat on the front row, I don't know where you sat, uh the back row uh that's where it was that's where I was it was calibrated for the back row, um, and it did sound uh really, really, really good.
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00:05:31.920So uh the front row, not quite as good, but the back row really, really did sing.
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00:05:35.439I sat in both both rows, so uh I had a bit of time doing that.
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00:05:38.079Lots of different uh demos, which is really nice.
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00:05:40.720Different like Star is Born.
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00:05:43.040We actually put on Sinners thanks to uh Mr.
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00:05:43.519Carter.
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00:05:57.439Uh Jamie kindly downloaded that for us all and we uh we we watched Sinners and again that's a if you want to sell a system just put the demo of Sinners on right at the beginning and uh yeah you'll you'll get a really nice demonstration there and the clients gonna be really really happy.
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00:05:59.279But yeah, that was a really really nice day.
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00:06:01.439We had some good food as well when the weather was shining.
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00:06:03.759Uh sorry, the sun was shining and the weather was good.
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00:06:07.360So uh just a drive back home took a little bit longer than I wanted.
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00:06:19.439Yeah, I think that's why I decided to go in the morning session because as you know, I'm a I'm a uh an early bird these days, so I thought look, I'm gonna get there, I'll get in the early session and uh and then I'll have some lunch and then go.
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00:06:24.079I think I left about two o'clock, I think it was, so uh when you guys went downstairs.
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00:06:25.839But no, I was I was really impressed.
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00:06:40.560It was to say, it was good selection of materials that Jamie had on there on a colliderscape, which uh is great because it does annoy me when you do go to some demos places and they they are flipping and flopping between USB sticks and DVDs.
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00:06:45.920It's like colliderscape just makes it a lot smoother and a lot more you know professional.
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00:06:51.040And then literally Jamie was like, Look, who wants to play something, who wants to listen to something?
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00:06:56.399So we were putting some music on on Tidal, and and yeah, it's just a great, great little room.
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00:07:13.920And I think as there's a funny, really funny photograph of Richard coming out from behind the fabric as uh Liam was sitting down last Sunday, I think it was, uh, watching the Belgian Grand Prix eating his jacket potato whilst uh the guys were still trying to build the room but around them.
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00:07:15.839So uh no, I was really, really impressed.
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00:07:21.040So and say I'm really happy that Crix is with Jamie and hopefully they'll do some good business.
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00:07:28.480Yeah, as Jamie was saying, they've obviously they launched it a little while ago, but now it's sort of full force and they're ready to go and really push it hard.
00:07:28.639 -->
00:07:37.279Um, we were talking about how we can different dealers can be part of it, and what he wants is like a specific dealer network, so he doesn't want everybody doing that.
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00:07:45.680You've got to go on maybe some training or something like that to actually become a proper Crix installer and do one, two, three a year if if if possible.
00:07:45.759 -->
00:07:52.720So, really sort of homing in on the on the Crix uh ethos and uh yeah, no, it's a it's a nice little demonstration that they did there.
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00:07:53.839So uh well done, guys.
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00:08:02.639Well no, I've been playing around with a MX30, I think it is, at the client's house we're doing with another integrator.
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00:08:08.000We've not really got the projector up and anything at the moment, but I was just calibrating the anthem.
00:08:08.319 -->
00:08:26.879We were using Anthem at this place, we were calibrating the anthem, the power amps, and that, and I was just literally sitting down airplaying from my MacBook some music to it in two channel, and it sounded amazing as some of the tracks, the go-to tracks I go to, like Jay-Z and Kanye, West Paris, which have got a good bass line.
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00:08:47.919The the the bass in the room was was brilliant, and I think the whole the whole design of Crix being that infinite baffle wall, being that you like you create, for want of a better word, a letterbox in the front wall when you slide it in there, and then you literally you know wrap the front wall with fabric and put the screen over it, it means it's exactly where it should be, it spans the width you need to be with the spaces.
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00:09:09.440Uh yeah, I I was never really a great fan of Crix, I'll be the first to admit, but since doing two cinemas with it, where I've not specified it, and then obviously now you know listen to it at Jamie's place, it's sort of swung me around to recommend it a bit more, uh, especially obviously more to integrators these days because not really doing much install.
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00:09:11.679Um, but I definitely would recommend it.
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00:09:22.240It's such a I mean, I've personally haven't done one, but it looks such a simple and easy installation as you say, you have your letterbox behind the screen and put in the speakers and the subs and away you go.
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00:09:24.799So the one you do at the moment, did that have extra subs in there?
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00:09:26.080What size room was that in?
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00:09:29.039So that is a so that's why they went up to the MX 30.
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00:09:33.679So that is uh I'm trying to think now, I think that's like five by seven.
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00:09:42.720Um, so it's got uh the MX30 at the front uh with spacers in it, and then at the rears, it's got two subs behind the rear seats.
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00:10:08.879We wanted to put them in the wall, um, but the clients like, I'm not taking that much depth, and I can't remember the name of it now, but I know that uh they were Crix were there, and uh the lady from Crix was basically saying that they were doing a smaller, shallower subwoofer that ideally could do those waveforming rear channels or be that rear sub that we might be able to get within, you know, some space frame systems and behind some fabric.
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00:10:15.279So they're not in the room like they are at Jamie's and or Liam's and this client's I've done at mine.
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00:10:17.120But but yeah, that was uh what was that?
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00:10:22.480So that was a uh that was a uh three four five six seven.
00:10:22.559 -->
00:10:30.639So that was a nine point nine point four point two because although it's got four subs, it's running on two two channels.
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00:10:31.279From the amp.
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00:10:38.799Um yeah, but uh no, actually it's from weirdly, and I want to have a word with the supplier about this.
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00:10:40.559It's running on some Bose amps.
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00:10:44.080Now I know they're not Yes, I know.
00:10:44.240 -->
00:10:46.159I know they're not Bows underneath.
00:10:46.320 -->
00:10:47.840I can't remember what they're called now.
00:10:47.919 -->
00:10:51.679I think they're a brand that C UK distribute as well.
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00:10:58.159Um but they are they were uh unbelievable faff to set up.
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00:10:59.360I didn't do it, luckily.
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00:11:01.519That's just that's just bows in general, isn't it?
00:11:02.000 -->
00:11:05.200It's not it's not anything to do with being anything else.
00:11:05.279 -->
00:11:06.480I think it's just bows in general.
00:11:06.639 -->
00:11:07.440There's a big faff.
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00:11:18.480Well the thing was you had to Simon actually our mutual Simon Simon had to get his son Jack down because they literally had to log into the PC and go into the settings of the PC.
00:11:18.559 -->
00:11:21.759But it wasn't like you know you do the anthem or or any of them.
00:11:21.840 -->
00:11:29.519I mean, like the they've got the audio control uh Hyperion, I think it is, running Jamie's system or Liam's system.
00:11:29.600 -->
00:11:32.399It's not like you just go in and adjust the levels and you do this.
00:11:32.559 -->
00:11:38.879You literally had to go out and mathematically work out the phasing and things like this to get it working right.
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00:11:42.720It was uh it was a right palaver, and I'm really glad I didn't have to do it.
00:11:42.879 -->
00:11:43.519But it sounded good.
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00:11:46.720It sounded good, and the client doesn't see all that, so that's that's the main thing.
00:11:46.799 -->
00:11:50.240And it's as long as the client's happy, that is the the priority.
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00:12:05.440Yeah, and that that job is uh I think that was like a five-meter wide screen research, side masking screen, a Bravius 6 projector, and and then obviously Crick's Anthem, Mad VR, um and uh Kaleidoscope.
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00:12:06.639So it is a full kit.
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00:12:10.399I mean it's good it's gonna be up there with one of the best cinemas I've ever built.
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00:12:20.559Um a shame I didn't earn the profit from selling the kit, but that that that's the thing, and that's a that's a big room, that's that's why they've gone to the uh the MX30.
00:12:20.720 -->
00:12:25.679But it that does 105 dB, so you want to get reference, you have to go to that level.
00:12:25.840 -->
00:12:32.480The uh the MX 20 is say that there's only 95 dB, so that's my only concern with some of the some of the quick stuff.
00:12:32.720 -->
00:12:37.600You want to get to that reference for the client, then you've got to put minimum MX30 in.
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00:12:44.799Yeah, and but don't forget, majority of the time people are gonna listen to it around about sort of 80, 80, 80, 85 dB.
00:12:45.120 -->
00:12:49.600Most people will listen to their cinemas that so but yes, it's a bit like a sports car.
00:12:49.679 -->
00:12:58.080It's nice to know that you can push it to reference, you can push it to 110 miles an hour if you need to overtake a slow-moving horse cart or something like that.
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00:12:59.039Yes, Stuart.
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00:13:02.960I like my analogies, analogies, yes, completely out there.
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00:13:23.759So I I the day before that, and I know that um I think it was Liam from Aggressive had gone to that before he came to um CAVD on a day, and I think Steve from Cedia was going to it later in the day, but the day before the CAVD one, I went to C UK, which I've never been to before.
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00:13:25.360Their showrooms down in Ascot.
00:13:25.519 -->
00:13:26.960Was it as posh as it sounded?
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00:13:28.000Yes, it's really nice.
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00:13:29.440They've got two really good rooms there.
00:13:29.600 -->
00:13:32.000They've got two, they've got two cinemas.
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00:13:52.559Um, one cinema, unfortunately, because of the way they set it up, I couldn't hear it, but um but it usually has JBL synthesis in it, um, with RKAM and and all those bits and pieces drive in it, and then the other room is a bit more sort of like trying to think how you could sort of panelled walls and things like that.
00:13:52.639 -->
00:13:57.600So it could be more of a hi-fi room as well as a media room, but again, projector base.
00:13:58.000 -->
00:14:07.919But no, they had a they had the guys from uh Harmon down to look at the new RCAM AVRs and the new RCAM um music streamers.
00:14:08.000 -->
00:14:11.440Well, they're not streamers, they're two channel hi-fi with the streaming built in.
00:14:11.679 -->
00:14:14.159But that was that was a really, really good day.
00:14:14.240 -->
00:14:15.600I mean, I was really impressed.
00:14:15.679 -->
00:14:17.679The uh let me just bring the screen down.
00:14:17.840 -->
00:14:28.080So they were showing off the I think the two models they had there were the AVA 35 and the uh AVP45.
00:14:28.320 -->
00:14:36.559Uh actually, I think they might have had the AVA 25 in one room, 35 in the other room, and then they also had the AVP, which is the processor.
00:14:36.799 -->
00:14:42.159So these are brand new uh processors from RCAM.
00:14:42.399 -->
00:14:53.279They basically start at the AVA 15 up to the 35 for sort of all built as one basically chassis that is an AVR, basically.
00:14:53.360 -->
00:14:58.080Uh, and then you had the AVP, which is the processor, which is the AVP 45.
00:14:58.480 -->
00:15:04.799Um, they then uh the two hi-fi bits they were showing off, looking at their website now.
00:15:05.600 -->
00:15:16.000Um, if I could find them, were two basically two-channel streamers, um, which was the SA35 and the SA45.
00:15:16.080 -->
00:15:19.840So they were two integrated amplifying streaming devices.
00:15:19.919 -->
00:15:30.960So they were basically two-channel stereo with the uh a beautiful, I mean the 45 had a beautiful large screen on the front of it, so you could easily sit there and see the artwork.
00:15:31.039 -->
00:15:32.720But is that similar to WIM?
00:15:32.879 -->
00:15:34.399That sounds sounds similar.
00:15:34.639 -->
00:15:37.200Uh yeah, but I think it's up there.
00:15:37.279 -->
00:15:48.159It's it's it's it these are more sort of like prosumer, you know, these are for proper hi-fi people with the power to run a proper, you know, set of speakers.
00:15:48.240 -->
00:15:52.240I mean, they also showed off their uh let me see if I can find it.
00:15:52.320 -->
00:15:53.919So I've always liked RCAM.
00:15:54.080 -->
00:16:01.440I mean, we I I I used to sell RCAM loads in uh when I was in retail, so uh we sold so many of their DVD players when they first come out.
00:16:01.519 -->
00:16:09.039I've actually got one here in the office just as a like a retro old school in the old Diva range and the RCAM range, went up to their factory and seen how everything was made.
00:16:09.200 -->
00:16:16.000So always liked the RCAM uh stuff and the AV amps early on weren't quite as good, but I think they've got better and better.
00:16:16.159 -->
00:16:18.480Hopefully, reliability is better with this new range as well.
00:16:18.559 -->
00:16:24.240I've heard some uh mixed reports on reliability, um, but um yeah, hopefully that that they're they are good to go.
00:16:24.480 -->
00:16:36.399Well, I I think from the reliability point of view, I think these are more these are more like designed in-house and they've looked, they've been tested within the inf the degree side of thing.
00:16:36.480 -->
00:16:44.639I think with the older models, I think they had an issue out of the box, but when you were two or three firmware updates in, I think they sort of stabilized and found the issues.
00:16:44.879 -->
00:16:52.559What was quite good with these, uh, talking to the guys was that these were very much designed by engineers in Cambridge.
00:16:52.639 -->
00:17:03.840You know, they were very much like they they were very focused on the performance of the product before the look of the product, so it was almost designed the proper way around.
00:17:04.000 -->
00:17:10.960So it was like it the product was designed, and then it was then given to the team that you know make things look nice.
00:17:11.119 -->
00:17:19.279So, for instance, it's in the black chassis now, it's got like a yellow LED around the sort of volume knob and touches of yellow.
00:17:19.359 -->
00:17:26.400And actually, if you look at their website at the moment, you'll notice that sort of yellow is sort of coming in as a brand colour for them.
00:17:26.559 -->
00:17:37.839Um, they also had uh uh a set of speakers, so they've also released a range of speakers, sort of starting with the bookshelf speakers, the R15, ER25.
00:17:38.000 -->
00:17:50.799Wow, and then you've got the floor standards, which are the R35 and the R45, and then you've got the R35C and the R35B, which is the centre speaker and the the subwoofer.
00:17:51.039 -->
00:17:54.880That's really interesting because the RCAM have never done speakers before, have they?
00:17:55.119 -->
00:17:55.920Not that I know of.
00:17:56.720 -->
00:18:02.319I don't think you have, but you've obviously got to remember Harman is part of sorry, you've got to remember RKAM is part of Harmon.
00:18:02.559 -->
00:18:04.960That is true, and Harmon is part of Samson, yeah.
00:18:05.119 -->
00:18:07.200Or own ultimately owned by Samson.
00:18:07.359 -->
00:18:21.519So, and obviously don't also forget that they now own a palephora of uh of products, including Bowser Wilkins, uh, you know, Revel, uh JBL, insert name of speaker here type of thing.
00:18:21.920 -->
00:18:24.079They own everything, I think you need to say sure.
00:18:24.799 -->
00:18:27.759Well, I mean, and I asked to be honest, I asked them this.
00:18:27.839 -->
00:18:41.359I said I asked them about it, and they actually were quite upfront with it, which was really, really interesting, which was like ultimately uh they're all sort of like left to do what they want to do within reason.
00:18:41.519 -->
00:18:57.920So if I analogise it to the to to my other podcast, the gaming podcast, it it's like when uh when Microsoft or Sony buy a big studio and they say, look, you know, just turn out the games that you're you've you're making because that's the games that we've bought you for.
00:18:58.079 -->
00:19:02.880So just carry on as you are and you don't necessarily have to worry about the money these days.
00:19:02.960 -->
00:19:11.119And and I think that with this they wanted to they wanted to embrace the R CAM name by bringing out a set of speakers.
00:19:11.200 -->
00:19:22.720Now, the set of speakers they had in the cinema room um were the R35s, I think with the R25s, the R35C, and the R25B.
00:19:23.039 -->
00:19:28.559Now, for me, obviously they had to be put in that room, um, but they didn't fit that room.
00:19:28.720 -->
00:19:53.839For me, they fit the room that's on the the images on RCAB's website, which is a lounge, living room type of place where you might want a decent surround sound system as an upgrade from your sort of soundbar or your your wireless music system, and then in the other room they had the R35s um with the the integrated amplifier, and I was really impressed with that.
00:19:53.920 -->
00:19:55.759They they really did kick.
00:19:56.000 -->
00:20:13.599Um yeah, so I think that is it a place for a uh an inside CI professional integrator person who builds cinema rooms like you, me, Melon Giff, Owen Tom, those type of people, then maybe not.
00:20:13.920 -->
00:20:22.319But is it like a nice two-channel system with a streaming system that takes EARC that is better than a uh sound bar?
00:20:22.559 -->
00:20:23.119Definitely.
00:20:23.279 -->
00:20:31.359Is it uh a good little surround sound system in a living room environment and that might be an upgrade from a sound bar, but you want multi-channel?
00:20:31.599 -->
00:20:32.240Definite.
00:20:32.559 -->
00:20:37.839So it's it's got its place, and and I think that it will sell really, really well.
00:20:38.160 -->
00:20:43.440Uh it was just nice to see some really interesting, sexy looking stuff from RCAM.
00:20:43.599 -->
00:20:44.480Yeah, no, most definitely.
00:20:44.559 -->
00:20:48.720And uh say if it fits uh fits the solution, then um then uh then all well and good.
00:20:48.799 -->
00:20:56.559I say the the the speakers, do you think they're Arcam or they're re-badged from Harmon or where where where do you think in the line they they come in?
00:20:56.799 -->
00:20:58.799I I'm pretty sure they're Revel speakers.
00:20:58.880 -->
00:21:00.880I'm pretty sure they're rebranded Revel speakers.
00:21:01.039 -->
00:21:02.160I'm glad you said that.
00:21:02.880 -->
00:21:05.039Yeah, I mean let let's face it.
00:21:05.279 -->
00:21:15.680Let's face it, if if you ever watch, like I watch uh a YouTuber called Matt Armstrong, and and he takes Crashdam his cars and he repairs them.
00:21:15.759 -->
00:21:26.640And his channel was grown from him doing an LDTT in the the car park of the restaurant he worked at at to and the moment he's just done a road trip in the Bugatti Veyron he's done.
00:21:26.799 -->
00:21:34.400Now, as he's been taking a pass apart this Bugatti Veyron, obviously there's a lot of parts in there which are VW Group.
00:21:34.559 -->
00:21:40.240Um uh there actually were, I think in the Shiron, there's some uh there's some uh Audi parts as well.
00:21:40.480 -->
00:21:55.839Um, but but you sort of say, you know, why are you gonna develop an airbag for a car that you're only gonna make 150 of where you could use the airbag from a car that you're gonna make three or four million of because you've got to do the RD on it.
00:21:56.480 -->
00:21:59.599So um I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
00:22:00.079 -->
00:22:11.920It I don't think they've literally just taken a Revel badge off and put an RCAM badge on, but I think the fundamental drivers of are are the same and they've just made them to look like the new RCAM style.
00:22:12.160 -->
00:22:12.319Yeah.
00:22:12.480 -->
00:22:14.079Maybe they've tweaked the crossovers and stuff.
00:22:14.160 -->
00:22:16.640I mean that the it has to work with the RCAM products.
00:22:16.720 -->
00:22:24.720So uh I would assume they've they've they've tweaked the uh the uh the crossovers with their own transistors and resistors and uh yeah, got it got its only good.
00:22:24.799 -->
00:22:26.160But uh sounds like a fun day.
00:22:26.400 -->
00:22:26.960Yeah, it was.
00:22:27.039 -->
00:22:28.799It was really, really good, and it was it was good.
00:22:28.880 -->
00:22:34.000I mean, obviously Mara um XAWE is there now, and it was good to see her.
00:22:34.160 -->
00:22:35.759She seems very happy there.
00:22:35.839 -->
00:22:37.759Um I got to meet Stuart, the owner.
00:22:37.839 -->
00:22:55.039Um we've sort of talked on email, but because he's based up in Scotland, we've never met face to face, and we had a really good conversation about HCA members, about Inside CI and about you know C UK going forward and what they were trying to achieve because there a lot of that's from the commercial background.
00:22:55.200 -->
00:22:57.839So hopefully you'll see a lot more from that.
00:22:58.000 -->
00:23:04.559Um, you also travelled another significant distance down to Rayleigh and went to monitor audio again.
00:23:04.799 -->
00:23:06.640Such a long way, Strip, such a long way.
00:23:06.799 -->
00:23:08.640It took me about 20 minutes to get there.
00:23:08.799 -->
00:23:13.279I got there and I was offered lovely pastries, a coffee, cup of tea.
00:23:13.440 -->
00:23:14.319It was beautiful.
00:23:14.480 -->
00:23:16.079No, I I went and done some training.
00:23:16.160 -->
00:23:17.039So it's summertime.
00:23:17.599 -->
00:23:23.440Obviously, you've got to keep yourself busy if you're not doing garden audio and home cinemas, so keep yourself educated.
00:23:23.599 -->
00:23:25.519And I got a certificate.
00:23:27.440 -->
00:23:28.400Look at that.
00:23:28.640 -->
00:23:33.119So if you're not watching, uh Elevate Monitor Audio Group, they do training.
00:23:33.279 -->
00:23:38.720And uh you can go there and uh learn about all their uh new Elevate uh speakers.
00:23:38.880 -->
00:23:40.400So uh I knew of them.
00:23:40.559 -->
00:23:46.640Obviously, we went there for the launch and the press day, and they've got all the speakers on show, but I couldn't tell you what was what.
00:23:46.720 -->
00:23:56.240But now I can tell you every single thing about that those speakers and what they do, the significance of them, the tier one, the tier twos, and the tier threes that they that they do.
00:23:56.319 -->
00:24:03.759Um and uh yeah, all the complete solutions, the uh architectural stuff, the um the the garden audio um as well that they do.
00:24:03.920 -->
00:24:09.359Um they do some actual proper spikes and subs uh systems and some outdoor garden speakers.
00:24:09.440 -->
00:24:12.480Um but yeah, no really good uh good morning that I spent there.
00:24:12.559 -->
00:24:14.160It wasn't too long, two or three hours.
00:24:14.400 -->
00:24:18.079Um again, got got got fed and watered, which was uh always good.
00:24:18.160 -->
00:24:20.000And uh I passed with Flying Colours.
00:24:20.079 -->
00:24:24.480So uh yeah, and I thanks to the guys uh Dan uh down there and uh yeah, everybody else.
00:24:24.720 -->
00:24:28.480So you that was the course that we discussed when we interviewed them.
00:24:28.799 -->
00:24:28.960Yes.
00:24:29.119 -->
00:24:29.519Is that correct?
00:24:29.759 -->
00:24:30.880It it was it's one of them.
00:24:30.960 -->
00:24:36.559So they do others uh that you can get a bit more bit more in depth and things, but uh that is one of them.
00:24:36.640 -->
00:24:44.559But uh yeah, not nice and easy, a bit of common sense uh is needed for uh the two-channel stereo speakers that uh that they they they do as well.
00:24:44.720 -->
00:24:46.640So uh yeah, really, really, really good.
00:24:46.720 -->
00:24:48.400So I always like a bit of training.
00:24:48.480 -->
00:25:02.720I mean, obviously, what are we we're well I'm over 19 years now been doing this for um and I always used to I always usually try and do uh once a quarter, I always try and get on some webinar or some in-person.
00:25:03.200 -->
00:25:23.039Obviously, it's a lot, it's changed a bit now after uh COVID, but try and go on some training and learn about a new product because you never know when you're gonna get uh a client say to you, Oh, you know, I want a power conditioner, or I want you know automated lighting, or I want a sprinkler system integrated into my whatever control system.
00:25:23.279 -->
00:25:26.480So it's always good to keep up to date and keep on training.
00:25:26.559 -->
00:25:42.880And actually, it's something I still do now with Inside CI, but more it's more now Google certified courses on advertising or Claude certified uh sort of certified courses on using Claude for you know AI and that within uh you know marketing and advertising and things like that.
00:25:42.960 -->
00:25:46.880So, which I could use with Inside CI and I could also use with HCA members.
00:25:47.039 -->
00:25:50.480So um I do like a bit of training and a free pastry.
00:25:50.880 -->
00:25:54.000Every day is a learning day, and we all like a free pastry.
00:25:54.160 -->
00:25:56.880I even took one back with me for for my journey home.
00:25:57.200 -->
00:25:59.279I had it had it for lunch, actually, a late lunch.
00:25:59.519 -->
00:26:05.039Actually, yeah, because it was when I left when I left uh uh Liam's Jamie turned around to me and said, Do you want to take a sausage with you?
00:26:05.200 -->
00:26:11.920And I looked at him and went, that splattering down my t-shirt whilst I'm driving on the M25 is probably not good for uh road safety.
00:26:12.160 -->
00:26:16.720But those speed humps would have taken your car out and nearly took my van out.
00:26:16.799 -->
00:26:20.319The last one I was I would have been too fast and uh yeah, scraped the bottom of it.
00:26:20.400 -->
00:26:21.680So I did panic a little bit.
00:26:21.759 -->
00:26:24.319But uh you would definitely have lost a sausage, Stuart.
00:26:24.480 -->
00:26:34.400Yeah, well I was I was thinking about taking the car and then I didn't for some reason because I like because of the car parking down there, because I've been there a few times, but and I completely forgot about the speed hump.
00:26:34.480 -->
00:26:42.240So I'm really, really glad that I didn't take the car because I I might have just been beached, sort of doing this back and forward in the car whilst we whilst we waited.
00:26:42.319 -->
00:26:43.839So uh they are brutal.
00:26:43.920 -->
00:26:47.759So if you ever if you go to Liam's house, they uh those speed bumps are brutal.
00:26:47.920 -->
00:26:50.640One mile an hour maximum speed, I personally would say.
00:26:50.799 -->
00:26:54.319Yeah, not and not and in your van and not a slammed-out car which has been lowered.
00:26:54.480 -->
00:26:55.039Definitely not.
00:26:55.200 -->
00:27:00.640But uh Stuart, you've got some news for us as well that uh we were discussing earlier.
00:27:00.799 -->
00:27:07.920You've got a bit of a name change, not you personally, because you always be called Stuart or Stu, but uh yeah, tell us more.
00:27:08.160 -->
00:27:18.000So actually, this is born out of the conversation we had at Jamie's, and and it's that classic case of where a lot of people say they do their best thinking when they're in the shower in the bath.
00:27:18.079 -->
00:27:19.920I do my best thinking when I'm driving.
00:27:20.160 -->
00:27:44.799So, as you alluded to earlier, I Jamie sort of like at the end of the presentation sort of said he wanted the integrator to say to them how they best wanted to be supported with uh Crix, how they wanted the relationship between CAVD and Crix to work, and and how does he go about incentivising people to buy Crix from CAVD?
00:27:45.279 -->
00:28:01.519This sort of sort of got me thinking in respects of the with Inside CI, I've I've been touting it and and building on that history that David set out in 2012, which was is the integrators view of our industry.
00:28:01.759 -->
00:28:16.160So, you know, um I remember um I think it was David Kitchener said to me, he'd said to me once, you know, you've turned from industry integrator to industry activist, and and and that's sort of what I feel with Inside CI.
00:28:16.240 -->
00:28:38.000I'm trying to approach it differently, I'm trying to approach advertising from the integrator's point of view of how I would have listened to it or seen it or read it or watched it when I was an integrator working on site, and it sort of gave me an idea of like one of the phrases we use within the within um the HCA is individually great but better together.
00:28:38.160 -->
00:28:43.839And it sort of made me sort of think, well, individually great, stronger together, better together.
00:28:44.160 -->
00:29:01.680Actually, as a voice of integrators, if we get everybody like the HCA members and we get senior integrators and we get everybody together to swap ideas, have conversations, we almost create something which I've termed as the integrators' voice.
00:29:01.920 -->
00:29:04.880So it sort of builds on that individually great.
00:29:05.039 -->
00:29:11.839So Simon of Cinema Rooms, Stuart of uh Immersive Cinema Rooms, but obviously strengthen numbers.
00:29:12.000 -->
00:29:22.079So my idea was to first of all gonna rebrand the uh podcast, the integrators voice podcast, uh, because I do believe it fits quite well.
00:29:22.240 -->
00:29:29.359It it's me and you talking about life as an integrator, news as an integrator, jobs we're doing, places we've been.
00:29:29.599 -->
00:29:41.279But also, what I want to do is I want to invite other integrators into the podcast to talk about their lives, and we're gonna get on a subject that Zach at Mega brought up on LinkedIn the other day that I read.
00:29:41.759 -->
00:29:47.519And also, the ultimate goal is to create a forum where we can all go and talk.
00:29:47.599 -->
00:29:50.880Now, I do want a little bit of feedback from people listening to this.
00:29:51.119 -->
00:29:53.279Where would you like me to do the forum?
00:29:53.440 -->
00:29:54.559I was just about to ask that.
00:29:54.720 -->
00:29:57.680Not Facebook, that'd be my uh priority.
00:29:58.000 -->
00:29:59.759Who uses Facebook nowadays?
00:30:00.079 -->
00:30:16.000So you've got places you could see you could do it on Facebook, you could do it on places like um uh Patreon, but then that's behind a paywall normally, although there is a there are three tiers, you could do it on places like Slack, or I've been having a look around at creating our own forum.
00:30:16.079 -->
00:30:21.759So you've obviously got you know websites like AV Forums, which is more consumer-based conversations.
00:30:22.000 -->
00:30:24.319So, first of all, I want to create a forum.
00:30:24.559 -->
00:30:44.079Second of all, what I want to do is I want to invite um professional manufacturers and distributors into the fold as well, because let's say, for example, uh you've got a beta test of a new product, you want to do a focus test, you want to send out some examples for people to play with.
00:30:44.240 -->
00:30:52.160You know, I'm doing some stuff with uh Sonus at the moment with the AMP multi, they're gonna send me one of the new units for me to unbox and have a look at.
00:30:52.400 -->
00:31:14.640So I just thought actually, as a group focused, an integrator group focused group of you know industry professionals that basically could give feedback to manufacturers, give feedback to distribution, and also swap stories and help each other out, um, yeah, it's sort of that's where it's termed as the integrator's voice, and it starts off with a rebrand of the podcast.
00:31:14.880 -->
00:31:15.839Fantastic news.
00:31:15.920 -->
00:31:20.720So the voice for the inside and A V industry.
00:31:21.039 -->
00:31:21.599I like it.
00:31:21.759 -->
00:31:21.920Yeah.
00:31:22.160 -->
00:31:22.480Tagline.
00:31:23.759 -->
00:31:39.920So basically, if you're if you're an integrator, if you do, you know, if you do anything from electrical to smart home to cinema to all of those type of things where our trades cross over, then yeah, we we welcome you in to have a conversation.
00:31:40.000 -->
00:31:55.519If you're new to the industry, you want to learn about the industry, if you're veterans like us who have been in the industry for way too long and have a lot of stories, and you know, we're both involved in other groups, in other chats, in you know, in other private WhatsApp groups, things like that.
00:31:55.599 -->
00:32:05.839And there's always some really good conversations that are swapped, like guys, I've got a problem with X, or guys, I'm doing this, and I can anybody remember the username and password to get into a Sony projector.
00:32:06.000 -->
00:32:07.839Wasn't that one of your recent ones, I think, wasn't it?
00:32:08.079 -->
00:32:09.599Uh I think so, or somebody else, yeah.
00:32:09.759 -->
00:32:10.160Yeah.
00:32:10.480 -->
00:32:38.880Um, so um, so yeah, it just sort of for I mean the forum will come and you know, and the numbers will come, but it's just sort of like the integrators' voice powered by Inside CI and the people behind it, um, because it is a platform for the integrators to listen and learn, and hopefully participate into some training and focus groups and and hopefully even look, here's a new product, we want to put it in front of 10 people to try.
00:32:39.039 -->
00:32:41.200Yeah, no, forum's a really good idea as well, Stuart.
00:32:41.359 -->
00:32:45.519So, um well, heads up there for uh doing a good job on on coming up with that idea.
00:32:45.599 -->
00:32:47.039Um, what platform we use?
00:32:47.119 -->
00:32:49.440I'm sure uh yeah, people can comment and and and let us know.
00:32:49.519 -->
00:32:51.599So so now you need to redo the intro.
00:32:51.839 -->
00:32:56.799Hello, and welcome to the Integrators Voice Podcast for Wednesday, the 29th of July 2026.
00:32:56.880 -->
00:32:57.279There you go.
00:32:57.440 -->
00:33:00.559Yay! Where's your little mixer to do some buttons?
00:33:04.319 -->
00:33:06.319Should have done that before the announcement, really, shouldn't I?
00:33:06.799 -->
00:33:08.400Should have done really rewind.
00:33:08.640 -->
00:33:14.400So, yeah, so obviously, uh, if you want to get involved, email HaloInsideCI.com.
00:33:14.640 -->
00:33:20.240Obviously, go to Halo, go to insideci.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter.
00:33:20.400 -->
00:33:28.160Um, check us out on social media and uh reach out to me directly if you want to be included in the forum when it goes live.
00:33:28.480 -->
00:33:33.279I'm not gonna promise you it's gonna be a quick turnaround because I want to get it up and get it up properly.
00:33:33.440 -->
00:33:44.000Uh, but if you want to register interest or you want to just be, you know, I'm having some great conversations when I see people like CAVD, like C UK, like AWE.
00:33:44.319 -->
00:33:46.720Uh I've got things that are going on in the background.
00:33:46.799 -->
00:33:50.799We talked about one just a minute ago um before we came on camera.
00:33:51.599 -->
00:34:08.400And I want to build Inside CI and the Integrated Voice podcast into or the Integrated Voice to be, you know, a voice of many people that one manufacturer or distributor comes to to ask opinions or to help you know get thoughts.
00:34:08.559 -->
00:34:09.760So uh good idea.
00:34:10.559 -->
00:34:17.280Get involved, email us hello at insideci.com or reach out to me on social media and uh and we'll take it from there.
00:34:17.360 -->
00:34:34.000But one of the things I saw the other day, which I wanted to bring up, was um good friend uh Zach at Mega um put on LinkedIn, um, which was the following Just heard that the big house in an affluent area outside London is getting rid of all smart home technology.
00:34:34.159 -->
00:34:40.880We are talking about a very big house with smart everything lighting, heating, AV, TV lifts, etc.
00:34:41.039 -->
00:34:41.280etc.
00:34:41.599 -->
00:34:47.679Going back to manual light switching, basic audio and TV, unsmiling emoji.
00:34:47.760 -->
00:34:51.599Uh, I was told that the system never works as it should, power issues, etc.
00:34:51.840 -->
00:34:52.079etc.
00:34:52.480 -->
00:34:54.320Clients not happy and fed up.
00:34:54.480 -->
00:34:57.840Maybe there's another side to the story, but this is what I've heard.
00:34:58.079 -->
00:35:08.800This is not giving our industry a good name, especially today when it is easy to design, deliver a system that can work even uh even when there is no power for a while.
00:35:09.039 -->
00:35:16.239Anyone can sell equipment, but uh but it is what you do that it with it that counts, not the boxes you provide.
00:35:16.559 -->
00:35:27.039Yeah, unfortunately, this is not the first time I've heard things like this, and uh uh overspecifying and uh under-supported is uh is a is a big issue in our industry.
00:35:27.199 -->
00:35:34.480Um one of uh a friend of mine um they deal with takeover jobs, let's put it that way.
00:35:34.559 -->
00:35:38.079Um, and one such job was a Lutron job up in London.
00:35:38.239 -->
00:35:46.079Uh a friend went around there, I won't mention who's who it was, in case of it don't want me to speak about this, but um yeah, I won't go too many specifics.
00:35:46.159 -->
00:35:51.599But basically what happened, uh they went around there, try to sort of think out clients like, oh, what about upstairs?
00:35:52.000 -->
00:35:55.840Okay, there's an upstairs, didn't realize it was an upstairs uh on the system.
00:35:56.000 -->
00:35:58.480Uh went upstairs, uh no keypads.
00:35:59.199 -->
00:36:00.159Oh, where's the keypads?
00:36:00.480 -->
00:36:15.519Like, well they're here the other day, and what the previous uh dealer had done while they were away is took the keypads out of the system to sell back to because they were selling the house, but take sell sell them back to the new seller, that's why the new buyer of the house.
00:36:15.920 -->
00:36:24.000So uh I think they've now been reported as uh as not to be uh uh the dealer of this specific lighting manufacturer.
00:36:24.159 -->
00:36:35.119Um so yeah, shocking things like that, but yeah, under specify so overspecifying a system, especially when the client can't use it, make it too complicated, is is just is not it's just a no-no really.
00:36:35.199 -->
00:36:36.000Just keep it simple.
00:36:36.079 -->
00:36:42.800It's uh I I know you're doing complete custom install and and home automation, and it it should be intuitive.
00:36:43.039 -->
00:36:48.719That's that I think that's the key word to make it intuitive uh for the client and for others using the house.
00:36:48.800 -->
00:36:54.320So we we've had uh client with uh run me up on Saturday actually, just a basic RTI remote control.
00:36:54.639 -->
00:36:56.880Couldn't turn on the system on, couldn't turn the lights on.
00:36:57.039 -->
00:36:59.599I said it's fine, just grab the uh RTI remote.
00:36:59.920 -->
00:37:02.239Ah, RTI remote wasn't charged.
00:37:02.559 -->
00:37:06.639So lit little things like that just uh make make a big difference.
00:37:06.800 -->
00:37:08.960So the client's not happy with the system.
00:37:09.119 -->
00:37:18.079Uh whether that he asked for support or didn't get the support that he required, spent all that money, then uh that's that's maybe uh the the case.
00:37:18.320 -->
00:37:23.679But if if he can't use a system, he's the client, it's up to him what he wants to do.
00:37:24.000 -->
00:37:30.800Yeah, I think I I had a big client that I uh a famous client, again, I won't mention his name.
00:37:30.960 -->
00:37:46.159Um I had a famous client that uh I was I sort of doing some work for uh years ago, it was as a result of the Sony contract I had years ago of all the Sony centres, and he came up to me and he said, Stuart, he said uh what do you think of this control system?
00:37:46.320 -->
00:37:48.400And I'm like, Well, it's a good control system.
00:37:48.480 -->
00:37:49.679Uh there's nothing wrong with that.
00:37:49.840 -->
00:37:50.159Why?
00:37:50.239 -->
00:37:51.280What what's your issues?
00:37:51.440 -->
00:37:53.440He said, Oh, we don't like it, we think it's rubbish.
00:37:53.599 -->
00:37:55.440I went, Well, tell me, tell me why.
00:37:55.519 -->
00:37:57.039Why do you think it's rubbish?
00:37:57.280 -->
00:38:06.559And he said, Well, he said, we went, we sat down the other night to watch TV and we've got the screen in front of us, and we went to favourites, and all the favourites on the screen were Russian.
00:38:06.719 -->
00:38:10.079And he said, For some reason the control system was showing us Russian channels.
00:38:10.159 -->
00:38:18.000I said, No, the control system was showing you the channels that the Russian family that you bought the house from potentially.
00:38:18.159 -->
00:38:21.440Oh, yeah, yeah, we bought from a Russian family, so that was their favourites.
00:38:21.599 -->
00:38:28.719What you needed to do was to get someone in to reprogram it to your Sky TV favourites or whatever platform you're using.
00:38:29.039 -->
00:38:36.000But there was no like handover, there was no book, there was there was no signage on the A V rack.
00:38:36.079 -->
00:38:46.320I mean, I always I always used to make like the AMG type plaques on the front of my racks, which was like hand built by Stuart Burgess and phone number and email address and that.
00:38:46.480 -->
00:39:20.159Um But I think first of all, if you are an industry, sorry, if you're a professional listening to this, whether you're a uh whether you're uh an architect, whether you're a builder, whether you're an interior designer, reach out to a HCA member, reach out to a CDI member, because you're then sort of cutting through a lot of the chaff, for want of a better word, to people that are investing in the industry, but also for the integrator, have a conversation with the client.
00:39:20.320 -->
00:39:21.360What do they want to do?
00:39:21.440 -->
00:39:28.800I mean, I wrote a document years ago for a lady which was like, imagine yourself walking into this room, the room is the kitchen.
00:39:28.960 -->
00:39:30.719What do you want to be able to do in the kitchen?
00:39:30.800 -->
00:39:32.079Do you want to be able to listen to music?
00:39:32.239 -->
00:39:33.679Do you want to be able to watch TV?
00:39:33.840 -->
00:39:36.880If you want to be able to listen to music, how do you want to listen to music?
00:39:36.960 -->
00:39:38.400Do you want it as background noise?
00:39:38.559 -->
00:39:40.079Do you want it as really good noise?
00:39:40.239 -->
00:39:44.800Do you want to be able to control it from a light switch on the wall or the phone in your pocket or the your voice?
00:39:44.960 -->
00:39:58.639And it was almost just sort of pushing her down the route to make those decisions because a lot of the people that we deal with have either never lived in that house before or that house does not even exist at the moment because it's not been built.
00:39:58.880 -->
00:40:03.199Um, and yeah, and you're gonna lose trade.
00:40:03.360 -->
00:40:04.719Houses will get sold.
00:40:04.880 -->
00:40:13.519So, in the case of a house being sold, if you've not supplied that customer with proper documentation, if you've not left your name and address.
00:40:13.679 -->
00:40:23.199I mean, if you're a control four dealer, I think Alan uh Chowman Soft does a uh uh help like button that you can put on control four.
00:40:23.280 -->
00:40:28.719So when you press it, it brings up like your your Google map of of you of the integrator.
00:40:28.880 -->
00:40:30.480So that's a good idea, actually.
00:40:30.559 -->
00:40:31.280I like I like that.
00:40:31.360 -->
00:40:37.280But yeah, we normally put our details on the rack and things, and normally when you there is an issue, you get get get a phone call.
00:40:37.360 -->
00:40:45.599But uh I think a lot of houses, so you mentioned that the Russian houses are getting getting sold, and if your details aren't there, then obviously they can't contact them.
00:40:45.760 -->
00:40:54.800I think what a lot uh is also happening is houses are being sold, and then you they're getting builders into to make it their own kind of property or own house, which is lovely.
00:40:55.119 -->
00:41:08.960But they don't the builder then goes, Oh, I know somebody who can look after that or to sort that out, and they're not an HCA member, they're not a CDA member, and that's when the problem starts, because they'll go, I'll give it a go, and that's where generally it leads to problems.
00:41:09.039 -->
00:41:17.199But but uh say a house like that uh has got to be well thought out, well planned, little things like just well, not little things, big things like Wi-Fi.
00:41:17.360 -->
00:41:22.480If you haven't got proper Wi-Fi throughout the whole house, then your iPad's not gonna work on the top floor to turn the lights on.
00:41:22.559 -->
00:41:28.880That little things like that, I know you've got keypads and stuff, but clients do like just pressing buttons on iPads and things like that, don't they?
00:41:29.119 -->
00:41:39.760But you you but the thing is if you've got I don't know, even if you're new to this industry and you've got an account with I'm I'm just gonna throw someone out there, you've got an account with someone like All Trade.
00:41:40.079 -->
00:41:44.159So maybe you've been an aerol and satellite installer, you've got an All Trade account.
00:41:44.320 -->
00:41:56.400If you turn around to the guys at All Trade to Lee or someone like that, who who distribute Unify, for example, they can point you in the right direction on how you could utilize a brand like Unify and designer system.
00:41:56.719 -->
00:41:58.000Yep, heat maps, things like that.
00:41:58.079 -->
00:41:58.639It's very easy.
00:41:58.719 -->
00:42:00.000You've got you've got the plans for the house.
00:42:00.079 -->
00:42:04.880We'll just do a basic draw and get heat maps of like, right, this is where an access point needs to go.
00:42:05.039 -->
00:42:09.360This is how much it would fill that that floor, because in London you've got a few floors.
00:42:09.440 -->
00:42:13.280Um, but yeah, it's uh it's really not that that that tricky nowadays.
00:42:13.599 -->
00:42:34.559But also you've got you know, you've got brands out there like Order Systems, like uh Damien and and and Jason, who I've had conversations with uh Jason about like video conferencing, and he was showing me some really good stuff at the senior summits about video conferencing and things like that, which actually is something that may well be thrown across our paths as integrators.
00:42:34.639 -->
00:42:46.400So as an integrator, all I would say is if you get offered something which you don't normally do, research it before you say yes, because it's very easy to look at the pound notes and and and install it.
00:42:46.480 -->
00:42:53.599But if you've never done it, it's it you're gonna you're gonna it's gonna come back and bite you on the arse, basically, one that side or the other.
00:42:53.679 -->
00:42:55.679And and don't overcomplicate it.
00:42:55.760 -->
00:43:16.880I think Zach's point here is a prime example of where it may well be have not been done by one integration firm, it might have been done by one integration firm, but with many of people doing it who have not checked it, or it could have been done by no disrespect, the builder or the ME consultant, and it's not a well-cohesive system.
00:43:16.960 -->
00:43:26.800And and our systems do work, and I've got many, many a system out there that's been out there for 10, 15 years plus that still works, touch wood to this day.
00:43:26.880 -->
00:43:28.960Um, I'm gonna get loads of phone calls now.
00:43:29.119 -->
00:43:38.800But they were all well designed, they were well integrated by me and my guys, and we look after them remotely and we put service level agreements in it.
00:43:38.960 -->
00:43:43.360But first of all, and first of all and foremost, people know where to find our name.
00:43:43.519 -->
00:43:46.320Also, don't forget to incentivize your client.
00:43:46.480 -->
00:43:48.320I know this is not your forever home.
00:43:48.480 -->
00:43:59.440When you come to move, if you could hand my details over, if you're seeing your client every year like I do, doing a service call, and they uh I mean, there's a s one a cinema near me that I did.
00:44:00.079 -->
00:44:01.039I think it was pre-COVID.
00:44:01.280 -->
00:44:05.760They and they said to me, Oh, you know, we're probably going to move to Scotland because they're both semi-retired.
00:44:05.920 -->
00:44:08.800I said, Well, when you do move, recommend me.
00:44:08.880 -->
00:44:17.360And if the client takes me on and does a few bits and pieces, well, not so much me anymore, but if you know we look after the project, I'll I'll give you a thank you.
00:44:17.440 -->
00:44:19.440I'll give you a drink, I'll give you a couple hundred quid.
00:44:19.519 -->
00:44:23.760If they end up spending 50 grand, I'll give you, you know, 5% of that or something.
00:44:24.000 -->
00:44:30.480Incentivise your client to pass on your details saying, This is the guy he's been really helpful, this is the gal, they've been really helpful.
00:44:30.639 -->
00:44:32.320Reach out to them if you want anything done.
00:44:32.559 -->
00:44:43.119Yeah, we've got that a few times, and uh it's it's quite nice going back to old jobs that uh that you you did about nine, ten years ago, and uh what what what what things used to be like, especially with projectors and things.
00:44:43.199 -->
00:44:48.400But I'd say going back to the uh the London house, clearly there was no service contract.
00:44:48.559 -->
00:44:55.920Either just bought the house or there was no service contract, the clients got more and more wound up and just had enough.
00:44:56.079 -->
00:45:15.760But uh say fundamentally, I think those kind of jobs get a service contract in sp in place, gold, silver, bronze, whatever you want to call it, level one, level two, level three, um, just get a service contract in there, and then you're not gonna get to these issues where the client's peed off, the industry gets a bad rep, and uh yeah, people get angry.
00:45:16.239 -->
00:45:31.280I think that's probably if I if anybody was to say to me, the 20 years you've been an integrator, what would you if you could go back to the beginning, what would you go back to the beginning and implement or change about you know where you are now?
00:45:31.760 -->
00:45:39.679And one of those things is would be service level agreements, would be would be because it's recurring monthly revenue, which is the holy grail for any business.
00:45:39.840 -->
00:45:58.320Um, you know, even if it's I don't know, even if it's a tenner a month or 20 quid a month, just to keep an eye on your system using you know Alta Labs Cloud or Ubiquity Cloud or Oversea or DeMots or any other said that DeMots is fantastic for that kind of thing, and that you just put it in there do a monthly contract.
00:45:58.480 -->
00:46:01.840If the client doesn't want to do it anymore, you're like, that's fine, no problem.
00:46:01.920 -->
00:46:09.840And then something will happen, they're like, ah, yeah, I I see why I spend this much money now on a uh uh on a yearly contract with the Mots.
00:46:10.480 -->
00:46:19.280Send them maybe if you can, if that that device does it, send them a at the end of every month just to let you know this is what has happened in your house.
00:46:19.360 -->
00:46:23.519You know, we've rebooted your Skybox for you using a Wattbox or a gude.
00:46:23.679 -->
00:46:30.880Um, these are the things we've done for you as part of that$19.99,$49.99,$99.99, whatever.
00:46:31.039 -->
00:46:42.239You know, so I know some people will say, you know, if you sign up to uh if you if you sign up to a certain fee, then we basically don't charge your call out or we do your service.
00:46:42.320 -->
00:46:49.280So if you you sign up for I know, let's say$49.99 a month, then we will come and do your service call completely free of charge.
00:46:49.519 -->
00:46:51.440You don't have to pay us a day rate to do it.
00:46:51.679 -->
00:47:13.840Again, going back to what we discussed earlier, this is why I wanted to create you know the integrators voice as a platform where anybody coming into this industry could have those conversations, like anybody who's been in this industry for years and goes, I need to get a little bit more money out of this, I need to do this, I need to do that, share those conversations because we do it on the HCA group.
00:47:13.920 -->
00:47:19.599You know, we have some great conversations on our WhatsApp group, and you know, and there's thousands of thousands of integrators around the world.
00:47:19.840 -->
00:47:22.400Can you imagine what that would have been like when we first started?
00:47:22.559 -->
00:47:26.480That would have been uh that would have been very, very, very handy for such things like that.
00:47:26.559 -->
00:47:31.039But uh it it would be more with like hi-fi, laserdisc, DVDs.
00:47:31.360 -->
00:47:32.079Yeah, yeah.
00:47:32.239 -->
00:47:34.880How do I stop this scratch on the back of my DVD?
00:47:34.960 -->
00:47:38.000Or I've got a client that's going from laserd to DVD.
00:47:38.159 -->
00:47:39.599How does he do his collection?
00:47:39.679 -->
00:47:42.159Oh my DVD keeps skipping what's going on.
00:47:42.320 -->
00:47:43.519Well, it's dual layer.
00:47:43.840 -->
00:47:44.559What's that?
00:47:44.800 -->
00:47:45.760Oh, okay.
00:47:46.079 -->
00:47:48.800Or it's was it double-sided at one point, DVD?
00:47:48.880 -->
00:47:50.880Because I couldn't uh I couldn't do another storage on there.
00:47:50.960 -->
00:47:52.559I think you had to turn it over at one point.
00:47:52.719 -->
00:47:55.360I think as Armageddon, I remember doing Armageddon.
00:47:55.679 -->
00:47:59.760Uh I think I can't remember, it was probably uh I don't know.
00:48:00.000 -->
00:48:02.000Laser is double-sided.
00:48:02.079 -->
00:48:04.480Yeah, laser this, but I'm sure DVD might have been as well.
00:48:04.559 -->
00:48:26.639Anyway, uh there's one scene in uh Armageddon, watched it, and then unbeknown to us, it was before they were heading into space um uh to sort out spoiler alert that the meteor were about to crash, and they went on the uh space station, but it skipped, so it jumped like three or four chapters, and then and then the spaceship that was starting to explode, the space station was exploding.
00:48:26.719 -->
00:48:28.079I was like, what's happened there?
00:48:28.159 -->
00:48:31.119So I'm like skipped it back to where we were, and it carried on.
00:48:31.199 -->
00:48:34.000We're like, oh, we've missed about two or three chapters there.
00:48:34.800 -->
00:48:40.559So so there, the jewel layer, but yeah, if we had that uh that little group back then you would know exactly what was going on.
00:48:40.800 -->
00:48:41.599Reminiscent.
00:48:42.000 -->
00:48:42.719Well, exactly.
00:48:42.800 -->
00:48:50.639I mean, that's I can remember that's how my started my A V obsession started off with a set of floor stand speakers in my bedroom at my mum and dad's.
00:48:50.719 -->
00:48:57.679I had a full surround sound system, a a friend style lazy, lazy boy with uh a pioneer uh dual layer.
00:48:57.760 -->
00:49:01.679Or actually, no, uh the laser displayer had actually turned it over for you.
00:49:01.760 -->
00:49:03.119It read both sides of the disc.
00:49:03.280 -->
00:49:06.400So uh was that a nice pioneer by any chance?
00:49:06.639 -->
00:49:09.119Yeah, it was pioneer 925 or something like that.
00:49:10.480 -->
00:49:14.239Yeah, I had it chip, I had it a little, there was a little flappy bit on the side.
00:49:14.320 -->
00:49:16.400Was it Technatronics or something like that?
00:49:16.639 -->
00:49:28.239There were they they basically put this little chip in it to make it dual uh region, and they said if you have any problems with it, pull this out before you send it back, because otherwise it will void the warranty.
00:49:28.400 -->
00:49:35.119And I was like, but but they've they've put the the slot there for you to put it in, but you you can't put it in.
00:49:35.199 -->
00:49:38.480It's like no no, you could put it in, but you've just got to take it out before you send it back.
00:49:38.639 -->
00:49:38.960Wow.
00:49:39.280 -->
00:49:40.559At least that was nice and easy.
00:49:40.639 -->
00:49:43.119I remember doing uh the denon DVD players.
00:49:43.280 -->
00:49:53.119We had the uh eight chip eight eight pin uh technotronics, oh yeah, technotronics, tectronics uh as a band technotronics, uh tetronic, tectonics, I can't even say it now.
00:49:53.280 -->
00:49:59.519Um, and you had to wire up the eight pin to another pin on the DVD player to get it multi-regional.
00:49:59.679 -->
00:49:59.840Wow.
00:50:00.000 -->
00:50:02.239I used to like doing that, it's a good bit of soldering.
00:50:02.639 -->
00:50:16.639Well, and then we went all the way through to the latter days of like the Sony, I think it's the Sony DVD players or Blu-ray players, where you got an all for one remote control and you you programmed like 69, 69, 44 in it, and then it made it multi-region.
00:50:16.719 -->
00:50:17.360So yeah.
00:50:17.679 -->
00:50:19.440That's before Google though, wasn't it?
00:50:19.679 -->
00:50:20.400Well, exactly.
00:50:20.480 -->
00:50:21.920Now you can just do anything with anything.
00:50:22.000 -->
00:50:23.599But uh so what news have you got, Stuart?
00:50:23.760 -->
00:50:24.639Any news for us?
00:50:25.039 -->
00:50:33.199Before we get into the news, please uh rate, review, or subscribe to this podcast YouTube video, whatever you're listening to or looking, uh watching it.
00:50:33.280 -->
00:50:42.320Uh it really helps us get found on platforms and gets us into more integrators' feeds to listen to us in their cinemas whilst they're building them or driving their van.
00:50:42.719 -->
00:50:51.440Um the news with me starts off uh so tickets are on sale for one of my favourite things now every year is the senior awards.
00:50:51.599 -->
00:50:55.119Um and uh yep, let me just bring the story down.
00:50:55.199 -->
00:51:04.639So tickets are now on sale for the 2026 senior awards, uh, the EMEA awards, taking place on the 23rd at Ready Drop.
00:51:04.800 -->
00:51:14.400Oh, oh, I'll just it's taking place at the Natural History Museum in London.
00:51:14.639 -->
00:51:16.880Yay, they've gone back to what they know.
00:51:17.199 -->
00:51:17.599Exactly.
00:51:17.840 -->
00:51:22.559And it's gonna be it's gonna be celebrating the 20th year of the awards.
00:51:22.800 -->
00:51:23.679Wow, is it really?
00:51:23.840 -->
00:51:29.039So tickets are available now at an early bird rate until the 28th of August.
00:51:29.280 -->
00:51:35.440Um, starting at£235 for members,£265 for non-members.
00:51:35.599 -->
00:51:56.239Uh, yeah, I mean the I mean Natural History Museum uh headline sponsor is our good friends at Monitor Audio Group, uh, with participations, additional participations, including Control Forge Drinks Reception, uh, Xenio as after party sponsor, and C UK group, Lutron and Sonos as associated sponsors.
00:51:56.480 -->
00:52:03.679Uh, I mean, my first CD Awards was courtesy of an invite from AWE from Mr.
00:52:03.840 -->
00:52:05.199Tickle, thank you very much.
00:52:05.440 -->
00:52:15.280And that was at the Natural History Museum, and that was sitting under to the side of Dippy before he went on his roadshow tour around the UK.
00:52:15.440 -->
00:52:23.599Um, yeah, I mean it's last year was good at the Londoner, the year before that at the brewery, or a few years before that at the brewery was good.
00:52:23.840 -->
00:52:36.000Um, they were really, really good venues, but uh for me, there's there was something always quite nice about, and I know obviously from a cost point of view, probably costs a damn sight more to have it in the natural history museum and places like that.
00:52:36.079 -->
00:52:36.800But 100%.
00:52:37.679 -->
00:52:47.599But for me, like going to the natural history museum, going to the VA, going to Harry Potter world, um, and having you know, I'm not a Harry Potter fan.
00:52:47.679 -->
00:52:50.400I got halfway through the first movie and turned it off because I got bored.
00:52:50.639 -->
00:52:52.320What about the Amazon TV series, Stuart?
00:52:52.400 -->
00:52:53.440I hope you're gonna watch that.
00:52:53.599 -->
00:52:54.239Uh maybe.
00:52:54.400 -->
00:52:57.760Um, I forget I have Amazon half the time apart from when I get me shopping.
00:52:58.079 -->
00:53:01.199I was watching Masters of the Universe last night on uh Amazon.
00:53:01.280 -->
00:53:02.400Highly recommended, by the way.
00:53:02.559 -->
00:53:03.519Is that He-Man?
00:53:03.679 -->
00:53:05.039Shh He-Man.
00:53:05.199 -->
00:53:06.559It's it it it plays on it.
00:53:06.719 -->
00:53:09.760I know we're skipping subjects, but it plays on it really, really well.
00:53:09.840 -->
00:53:14.159So if you watch the cartoons, if you're So it's not it's it's not Mattel then, is it?
00:53:14.320 -->
00:53:31.280You're a 70s, 80s child, you need to watch it, and you uh you will laugh out loud at certain pits because it's it includes Fisto and other such uh innocent innocent names uh when when you were there, and uh yeah, no, I'd I'd recommend it just for nostalgia reasons.
00:53:31.360 -->
00:53:31.920It's really good.
00:53:32.079 -->
00:53:33.840Oh, I'll have to I'll have to have a look at that.
00:53:33.920 -->
00:53:43.920But no, I mean for me like having dinner on what was it, the platform nine and three-quarters or whatever it is at Harry Potter next to the train.
00:53:44.079 -->
00:54:04.800I mean, it was just having those those those really good industry dinners and the awards in some really fun places where you know you could walk through the entrance into Harry Potter world where they've got all the the costumes, or you could walk through the natural history museum and see the you know the the fossils and the the pictures and all that.
00:54:05.760 -->
00:54:07.760It was just a hell of a lot more interesting.
00:54:07.920 -->
00:54:18.079Again, no disrespect to Londoner and the brewery, but for me, for me, that's what the Cedar Awards is, and and I cannot wait to get my free press pass, Cedia.
00:54:18.400 -->
00:54:21.599I'm talking at you, Steve, um, to get my get my ticket.
00:54:21.679 -->
00:54:27.199I'm gonna buy my ticket um and then go to this year because I really, really, really do enjoy it.
00:54:27.360 -->
00:54:28.880Yeah, no, they're they're really good shows.
00:54:28.960 -->
00:54:53.679My my first one was about 15 years ago, and uh we actually um uh filmed the the event and hint hit nudge nudge um and we actually did interviews um but we also had um the Sky News TV presenter who was doing the hosting, and uh I was interviewing the the winners as as part of um uh cinema uh uh Cine Now.
00:54:54.079 -->
00:54:54.559Cincy Now.
00:54:54.719 -->
00:54:55.280Yeah, yeah.
00:54:55.360 -->
00:55:04.880So I was I was interviewing people, and then I think it's Martin, Martin, somebody come along, uh the Sky News host is like, would you like me to interview people?
00:55:05.039 -->
00:55:06.559I'm like, Yeah, go for it.
00:55:06.800 -->
00:55:07.679You're much better than me.
00:55:07.840 -->
00:55:20.960So uh he he he did the did the uh did the uh the interviewing and uh yeah I think doing interviews for people who've just won, obviously alcohol can play a little bit of a uh an important part of that.
00:55:21.039 -->
00:55:24.800So don't get too drunk when you if you are being interviewed and get your get your awards.
00:55:24.880 -->
00:55:29.039But I think obviously nowadays you just go up and shake hands and stagger off back to your table.
00:55:29.119 -->
00:55:37.599But see the awards are good, you get to to to to uh catch up with everybody of all your industry friends and also meet new friends and things like that.
00:55:37.679 -->
00:55:39.760Um it's uh it's a really good evening.
00:55:39.920 -->
00:55:41.679So get your ticket before they sell out.
00:55:41.840 -->
00:55:42.480Yeah, definitely.
00:55:42.559 -->
00:55:44.639I mean it's a really good, a really good event.
00:55:44.800 -->
00:55:46.639It's really, really worth going to.
00:55:46.800 -->
00:55:51.440And uh uh if Matt, if you're listening to this, could you just shift them forward a little bit?
00:55:51.599 -->
00:55:57.119Because last year they went on quite a long time and I had to leave like halfway through the second half to get my train home.
00:55:57.360 -->
00:56:00.960Just get a hotel, Stuart, get it, book it now, be nice and cheap.
00:56:01.199 -->
00:56:04.960I go to bed at like half nine, ten o'clock, and that's when the senior awards start.
00:56:05.119 -->
00:56:07.519You have to have some Pro Plus, that'll keep you going.
00:56:07.760 -->
00:56:08.800Old school.
00:56:09.119 -->
00:56:10.960I don't have the alcohol to drink anymore.
00:56:11.039 -->
00:56:20.000So uh so anyway, so Simon, the second story is uh Sony Home Hony Home Entertainment Product Training.
00:56:20.159 -->
00:56:24.239I saw this come up um on the true RGB TVs.
00:56:24.559 -->
00:56:34.239Yeah, so uh a little bit of uh an email from Sony uh regarding their new uh true RGB uh TVs, but it was also on the other products.
00:56:34.320 -->
00:56:38.079So I thought it was gonna be some live webinar and teaching other things.
00:56:38.159 -->
00:56:46.559It was actually on YouTube, so whether it was live but on YouTube, uh I'm not 100% certain, but uh I had to wait quite a while for it actually started.
00:56:46.800 -->
00:56:50.639So um if you kind of googled it, you'll probably have to find it on YouTube somewhere.
00:56:50.719 -->
00:56:56.880Um but yeah, no, really, really good uh uh uh in training, I suppose.
00:56:56.960 -->
00:57:00.239I wouldn't call it training per se, it wasn't like the monitor audio one that I did.
00:57:00.320 -->
00:57:13.840Um it was just going through their all their TVs um that they've got out, and they've got a number of TVs, but also they've got um their Bravia Connect systems, uh which basically is wireless speakers.
00:57:13.920 -->
00:57:20.400So I know we spoke about HEOS uh not too long ago, um, and going through uh how how they do that.
00:57:20.480 -->
00:57:23.760But basically the Bravia Connect, you can actually do it on your phone.
00:57:23.920 -->
00:57:28.960Um, so get it on your phone and excuse me, somebody's talking on my speaker.
00:57:29.280 -->
00:57:38.960So yeah, the Bravia Connect, you can actually um have that on your phone and connect up the system with a soundbar, um, get all the soundbar working, get the rear speakers working wirelessly as well.
00:57:39.119 -->
00:57:47.760The sound bar does Atmos, so they're trying to really home in on the sort of the theatre uh home cinema market, and we know we're talking about keeping things simple.
00:57:47.920 -->
00:57:57.760If the client wants a nice Sony telly from whatever size, so you've got the Bravia 9 uh Mark II, uh, which is uh say the the true RGB TV.
00:57:57.840 -->
00:58:13.360Um there's actually been a review um from our friend Vince recently on YouTube, uh, and he did say right at the end, push come to shove, OLED is still better, but the true RGBs do look pretty pretty impressive, especially their anti-glare and things.
00:58:13.519 -->
00:58:24.800Um but yeah, Bravio 82s, Bravia 72s, um, and uh yeah, you've got sub-7, sub-eight, sub-nines, and the rear eights and nines as well as part of that.
00:58:24.880 -->
00:58:28.239But just a complete package, and I think they really get it, Sony.
00:58:28.480 -->
00:58:40.880They they listen to integrators, especially reviewers like Vince and uh and and things like that, really listen to what what they have to say and implement software upgrades and and and what they can do.
00:58:41.119 -->
00:58:50.079But having a a home not not as cinema as as we would have cinema, but as we were talking one of our first podcasts, like what what is home cinema?
00:58:50.320 -->
00:58:54.000Is it something you can go and get out of the box and just plonk it down?
00:58:54.159 -->
00:59:04.000But some people are happy with a nice big 75-85-inch TV with a Sony soundbar that does Atmos, get the the the rear speakers wireless.
00:59:04.079 -->
00:59:06.880You can even have two subs now as well, dual subs.
00:59:06.960 -->
00:59:08.400Yeah, again, they're wireless.
00:59:08.639 -->
00:59:16.159Obviously, you're not gonna get deep levels of bass, and you're not gonna get 105 dB, but in a in a nice little media room.
00:59:16.239 -->
00:59:19.920Um, I think uh that's uh that that would do some people.
00:59:20.159 -->
00:59:23.599Yeah, well, shout out to Vincent at HD TV test.
00:59:24.000 -->
00:59:35.920If you go on YouTube and just put in HD TV test all on word, you'll see on there his video is uh it's my Sony Bravia 92 review, took six weeks, and here's why.
00:59:36.159 -->
00:59:40.480Yeah, he uh he does make uh some fantastic innuendos uh in this one.
00:59:40.559 -->
00:59:43.360So uh keep keep an eye out for the little ting.
00:59:44.000 -->
00:59:46.719Um but uh yeah, basically about him lasting longer.
00:59:46.960 -->
00:59:56.559I always remember him saying to me uh what I always remember saying on one video I watched before I really knew him, and it was like if you like this uh video, uh press the like button.
00:59:56.719 -->
00:59:59.760If you don't like this video, press the like button again.
00:59:59.920 -->
01:00:08.079Um and uh I thought that was quite funny, but I I I was chatting to him recently at the uh uh the AWE Expo.
01:00:08.159 -->
01:00:12.719So I was chatting with him and Steve and Stuart Tickle, so it was good, it was good to catch up.
01:00:12.800 -->
01:00:23.440So uh no, I mean it's um the true RGB TVs do look very interesting from Sony, and obviously they are you know getting bigger and bigger like we've we've discussed before.
01:00:23.599 -->
01:00:33.199So it's gonna be interesting to see RG true RGB, OLED, uh, you know, side by side, how they how they fare type of thing.
01:00:33.360 -->
01:00:35.199It's like Mortal Kombat fight.
01:00:36.159 -->
01:00:37.679I watched that as well the other day.
01:00:37.840 -->
01:00:40.639Oh, I couldn't even think of anything worse watching that.
01:00:41.039 -->
01:00:47.360I was half asleep to be fair, but uh wh while you're on your own, drink drink drink beer and uh watch Mortal Kombat.
01:00:47.519 -->
01:00:56.000Oh no, so you're saying to me that you wouldn't watch the remake of um oh what was the Arnold Schwarzenegger film that's just got remade?
01:00:56.159 -->
01:00:56.400Running.
01:00:56.800 -->
01:00:57.360Oh, Running Man.
01:00:57.440 -->
01:00:58.639Yeah, no, that was god awful.
01:00:58.880 -->
01:01:02.239First ten minutes was great, and then after that it just got plain silly.
01:01:02.320 -->
01:01:03.360We should do film reviews.
01:01:03.519 -->
01:01:07.519I was gonna say, you you were not gonna watch, you wouldn't watch that, but you watched Mortal Kombat.
01:01:07.599 -->
01:01:10.320I I only saw Mortal Kombat and was like, I'm not even gonna watch that.
01:01:10.559 -->
01:01:13.599I just like I've got to that age now I'm just like reminiscing, to be fair.
01:01:13.760 -->
01:01:16.480So uh yeah, that's where I'm at.
01:01:16.719 -->
01:01:17.599Oh, excellent.
01:01:17.679 -->
01:01:30.320Right, so the next story is uh sort of following on from our story last where we were talking about shows and things getting cancelled and exhibitions and events and bits and pieces like that.
01:01:30.480 -->
01:01:40.400Um, on the on Monday the 20th, so last week, seven days ago, as we record this, um Monitor Audio put out a press announcement saying um let me just bring this down.
01:01:40.559 -->
01:01:45.920Uh Monitor Audio is to hold a CI Connect trade showcase.
01:01:46.079 -->
01:01:54.400So Monitor Audio Group has announced a two-day open event for the custom installation industry taking place on October the 7th and October the 8th.
01:01:54.639 -->
01:02:03.199CI Connect aims to encourage collaboration across the sector, bringing together technology brands and industry trade associations and charity partners.
01:02:03.440 -->
01:02:07.440Hosted at Monitor Audio's group headquarters in Rayleigh Exics.
01:02:07.599 -->
01:02:09.440That's going to be a journey for you again.
01:02:09.599 -->
01:02:27.119Um, CI Connect 2026 promises to be to showcase the latest innovations in residential technology, offering visitors opportunities to experience integrated smart home solutions, attend live product demonstration, watch guest speaker demo demos and mini training sessions.
01:02:27.360 -->
01:02:44.400Participating brands at the moment include Cedia, the Chords Company, our friends at Cinema Lux, Control 4, Infinity Seating, obviously Monitor Audio, 1AV, QMotion EMEA, Reiko Lighting, Together for Cinema, Trinov, and WeQote.
01:02:44.559 -->
01:02:47.280More will be announced in the coming weeks.
01:02:47.519 -->
01:02:54.159So it's it's good that it seems to be that Monitor have sort of like gone, look, we've got these lovely new facilities.
01:02:54.320 -->
01:03:04.800Let's reach out to some of the people that might have been doing EI Live and then see if we can get something together that still sort of like heralds that and builds on that.
01:03:04.880 -->
01:03:10.639And is and again is a a couple of days where people can get together and chat and look at some new products and do some networking.
01:03:11.039 -->
01:03:14.960May I be the first to say, well done, Monitor Audio Group.
01:03:15.360 -->
01:03:16.639It should be commended.
01:03:17.039 -->
01:03:20.719Not some I've seen some forums and they've just moaned.
01:03:21.039 -->
01:03:24.400Obviously, we haven't got an initial install this year, which is fine.
01:03:24.639 -->
01:03:25.119Fair enough.
01:03:25.280 -->
01:03:42.639So Monitor Audio have stepped up to the plate to offer installers an opportunity to have something slightly different where you can go and listen and understand and talk to the exhibitors or whatever you want to call them that they're trying to do at their facility.
01:03:43.039 -->
01:03:51.119There's no point whinging and moaning about oh, it's just another event where you've got some speakers and some Trinov and that kind of stuff.
01:03:51.440 -->
01:03:52.400That is not the point.
01:03:52.559 -->
01:03:54.400If you don't want to go, don't go.
01:03:54.880 -->
01:03:56.079There's my rant over.
01:03:56.239 -->
01:03:56.639Thank you.
01:03:56.960 -->
01:04:12.880Well, I think it's it's a I'm I can only imagine they're gonna do it in like the the room where you did the training the other day, because obviously the rest of the buildings there are very much like the museum offices and and factories and things like that.
01:04:13.039 -->
01:04:23.039So it's not a huge venue, so it's not gonna be an EI Live, it's not gonna be uh an Epsom race course or a Sandown Park type thing.
01:04:23.280 -->
01:04:42.239It's gonna be a little bit like a CDA summit, it's gonna be where you're have some good brands there, but more importantly for me, it's the for me, it's the networking, it's the if if there's good conversations about subjects about being an integrator, I mean that's the way I would approach it.
01:04:42.320 -->
01:04:52.480I mean, David years ago did something called Inside Out, and it was uh now rest in pre rest in peace the Dolby Um cinema or Dolby facilities in Soho.
01:04:52.719 -->
01:04:53.840Is that is that gone now?
01:04:54.000 -->
01:04:56.000Yeah, Dolby So Dolby's not in Soho anymore.
01:04:57.039 -->
01:05:06.639Uh yeah, I mean it was costing them a stupid amount of money every year to be there, and it was virtually no one was there, so it was it's a shame, really.
01:05:06.880 -->
01:05:16.400I mean, obviously we we've we've got places like the Kef Gallery, which is a I use quite a lot, which is just off of uh Great Portland Street or just off of uh Oxford Street.
01:05:16.719 -->
01:05:24.800But David did something there years ago called Inside Out, which was uh which was little demonstrations of I think it was M and K.
01:05:25.199 -->
01:05:27.599I think that there was Sony were there.
01:05:28.079 -->
01:05:33.760CAVD actually uh hired that out as well, right, right, right at the beginning when uh Jamie first started his journey.
01:05:33.920 -->
01:05:39.440I might be wrong, it might have been previous uh company he worked for, but I'm sure it was uh CAVD.
01:05:39.599 -->
01:05:49.920Well, I think it's just it's important to have some like some I think for me, I will go somewhere where there's really good guest speakers, where there's really good networking.
01:05:50.159 -->
01:05:58.639Uh maybe not so much interested in the product because uh yeah, I'm I'm we do this, I'm quite adverse with what's going on in this world.
01:05:58.800 -->
01:06:01.840If it's new stuff and New sexy shiny and things like that.
01:06:02.079 -->
01:06:02.880Brilliant.
01:06:03.119 -->
01:06:11.760But like you, we go to EI Live, we go to ISE, we go to you know C A V D, C U K AWE, all of those things.
01:06:11.920 -->
01:06:13.440So I think it will be really good.
01:06:13.519 -->
01:06:14.719But yeah, I'm with you.
01:06:14.800 -->
01:06:20.159You know, hats off to the guys at you know uh monitor audio.
01:06:20.239 -->
01:06:25.119I mean MJ's uh talking about it if you read the article, the inside CI website.
01:06:25.440 -->
01:06:26.000Thank you.
01:06:26.159 -->
01:06:31.920Thank you for stepping up and putting something on, and hopefully this is the start of many, many things to come.
01:06:32.000 -->
01:06:39.519And maybe something that is slightly different to your EI lives and your individual focused uh brand.
01:06:39.760 -->
01:06:52.880Yeah, it's not it's not an EI live replacement by by any stretch of the imagination, and it's not trying to be, as uh MJ said, like our industry thrives on face-to-face uh conversations, which which is what what our industry is all all about.
01:06:52.960 -->
01:06:54.480So if you don't want to go, don't go.
01:06:54.639 -->
01:06:57.760We would urge you to go because it's gonna be a fun couple of days.
01:06:57.920 -->
01:07:02.079So uh they've actually got quite a few uh it's quite a big area actually.
01:07:02.239 -->
01:07:11.679I've remember where they sort of you go into the other buildings, whether they do something in there, I know it's more office-based and things, but um obviously they've got the warehouse as well, which I'm not sure I'll be able to use.
01:07:11.840 -->
01:07:19.280But uh, you have got the the the larger room inside, you've got the the uh the the the the the media room uh that they've got.
01:07:19.360 -->
01:07:26.559So the the rooms are all pretty big, so they can house quite a few few few people in there, but uh no, it's be a good good couple of days.
01:07:26.719 -->
01:07:31.519Get your name down and uh yeah, come come along and uh do some uh face-to-face chats.
01:07:31.840 -->
01:07:32.960Definitely 100%.
01:07:33.679 -->
01:07:41.440So talking about speaker brands, uh one of your favourite uh Amina has released a new speaker, which is the next story with you.
01:07:41.679 -->
01:07:43.119Yeah, so we we like Amina.
01:07:43.360 -->
01:07:52.159Obviously, we did the uh the Tudor building and uh which we won uh the inside uh uh uh media room award for, which is really good.
01:07:52.320 -->
01:07:58.559And uh obviously Michael come down and uh did the uh did the uh uh video for us, the the case study.
01:07:58.960 -->
01:08:00.800Drone flying by Simon at Cinema Rooms.
01:08:01.039 -->
01:08:02.079Whoop whoop, yeah, that's me.
01:08:02.239 -->
01:08:07.679Um but what they have got out is the Sapphire S200 and the Sapphire Dual.
01:08:08.239 -->
01:08:11.039So what is interesting, I'll start on the dual first.
01:08:11.119 -->
01:08:14.400Obviously, that's a two-channel single stereo speaker.
01:08:14.960 -->
01:08:39.439So ideal for like bathrooms, offices uh in in the home, not massive rooms, but we normally just I don't know about yourself, but we just normally put a single uh uh stereo speaker up in the ceiling, and it's a bit odd because you can just see one speaker, so it's practical we haven't got much space again in bathrooms or offices and things like that, but it does look a bit odd when you just see one speaker.
01:08:39.680 -->
01:08:46.479So with the the dual uh sapphire uh amina speaker, you're not gonna see that because it's gonna be plastered over.
01:08:46.640 -->
01:08:54.800Um, you may need if you wanted to get their sub that they do or a sub in the corner just to get it a bit more room because you're not gonna get loads from that.
01:08:54.960 -->
01:08:57.680But what you have also got is the S200.
01:08:57.920 -->
01:09:02.800So the S200 uh speakers uh they are slim lined.
01:09:03.119 -->
01:09:11.680So again, going back to our Tudor building install that we that we've done, the the the beams, the joists, if you want to call them, there was no set standard.
01:09:11.840 -->
01:09:17.439Um obviously modern houses they are set standard um and makes life a lot easier.
01:09:17.680 -->
01:09:29.279But the slimline invisible speakers for the tight spaces, so the newest addition to our Sapphire range is the S200, a slimline invisible speaker built for projects where space is at a premium.
01:09:29.439 -->
01:09:31.840Um, so again, you're not gonna get much space from that.
01:09:32.000 -->
01:09:37.680So the panel measures just 200 by 450 and is only 31 millimeters deep.
01:09:38.000 -->
01:09:40.319So that is pretty impressive.
01:09:40.399 -->
01:09:44.960Again, you're not gonna get much space from that, but you can obviously add their subs.
01:09:45.199 -->
01:09:49.760Uh built for narrow joists and awkward voids, is the way they're selling it.
01:09:49.840 -->
01:09:51.840Um, actually on their website, which is quite good.
01:09:51.920 -->
01:10:02.640I'm surprised our name's not mentioned, but but is this they've got frequently frequently frequently asked questions is the Sapphire S200 suitable for listed and heritage buildings?
01:10:03.199 -->
01:10:05.520And uh of of course the answer is is yes.
01:10:05.600 -->
01:10:08.079So, no, a nice little solution from uh Amina there.
01:10:08.239 -->
01:10:09.600There definitely should be a link in there.
01:10:09.680 -->
01:10:13.840Watch our case study of an install we did with Martin at Redline and Simon at Cinnamaru.
01:10:14.000 -->
01:10:14.479Yeah, 100%.
01:10:14.800 -->
01:10:16.479So get on it, Matthew.
01:10:16.640 -->
01:10:26.159Um, no, I mean what I like about invisible speakers, what I like about Amina, I mean, obviously, we did a 16-channel Amina system for a client a few years ago.
01:10:26.399 -->
01:10:43.760What I quite like about the invisible speaker or the plaster in speaker is exactly that is that it's not detracting from the environment of the room, the decor of the room, it could be recessed within furniture, uh behind the veneer, it can go behind wallpaper.
01:10:43.920 -->
01:10:59.199But more importantly, in houses that have got beams in the ceiling, in houses where you know, typically, as we always do with ceiling speakers, the the builders never put the joists in the right way, or they've had to put a double joist in and not think thought about a ceiling speaker going in there.
01:10:59.600 -->
01:11:13.359If the speaker's not exactly centre above the TV or below the TV, or the speakers are not evenly spaced left or right because of the joist, with obviously plaster inch speakers, it doesn't matter so much because you can't see them.
01:11:13.680 -->
01:11:34.800Where I've done a few jobs where we've had to put speakers around the TV, and I've used Amina mainly because actually the way it's got into the wall, the the right-hand speaker would have been a you know like a foot to the more away from the TV in the left hand because it was a retrofit and the client didn't want to build the wall out.
01:11:34.960 -->
01:11:37.760And I think that's where invisible speakers work really well.
01:11:37.840 -->
01:11:43.600And then your analogy, invisible spit, well, plastery speakers in wet environments tick, first of all.
01:11:43.760 -->
01:11:46.720You know, we were we were doing quite a big job with Amina.
01:11:46.960 -->
01:11:54.319Unfortunately, the house I don't think ever got built because the company that did it went bankrupt or put into litigation or something like that.
01:11:54.479 -->
01:11:56.000But we were going to put them in a cinema.
01:11:56.479 -->
01:11:58.479Sorry, in a cinema, in a swimming pool.
01:11:58.560 -->
01:12:01.359Um, because again, they were going behind plaster.
01:12:01.680 -->
01:12:02.880You didn't see where they were.
01:12:03.279 -->
01:12:04.640Yeah, you didn't see where they were.
01:12:04.720 -->
01:12:30.079So uh, you know, a dual speaker, invisible speaker in a in a kitchen or a bathroom, uh, an en suite are brilliant because you could within reason put it anywhere, hook that up to a uh a multi-room audio amplifier as part of a standalone system or as part of a home automation system, and you don't see the speaker as good old Babs from uh who used to be with Amina said, you're not putting dinner plates in the ceiling.
01:12:30.399 -->
01:12:31.840No, you're definitely not doing that.
01:12:32.239 -->
01:12:42.560We had actually a client uh contact us recently, wanted um at a fairly big room, nine metres by about four metres, um, but the speakers had to be offset because that's where the wall was.
01:12:42.640 -->
01:12:45.600So you had basically wooden beams in the in the ceiling on show.
01:12:45.760 -->
01:13:00.880So we could put the screen centrally, but if you imagine the screen central and then a wall to the just to the right hand side, uh the client suggested having in-wall speakers from a certain manufacturer, which is fine.
01:13:01.119 -->
01:13:15.199But I'm the more I thought about it, I thought that's gonna look odd because not only would it sound a bit odd, because I think to the right of the screen, obviously you can EQ as much as you like, but you'd also see the speakers in a wall to the right hand side of a of a of a screen.
01:13:15.520 -->
01:13:22.720So my my suggestion was a mean of speakers, which obviously not the perfect uh way to have sound offset.
01:13:22.960 -->
01:13:28.560Again, you can EQ that uh to to a certain extent, but how you won't be able to see the speakers.
01:13:28.800 -->
01:13:32.399So you won't you wouldn't know they were there, and you're like, oh, where's that sound coming from?
01:13:32.479 -->
01:13:42.159So it's not quite as uh as obvious, but having speakers in a in a a wall that uh wasn't central to the screen may have looked a bit odd.
01:13:42.239 -->
01:13:44.640We haven't done it yet, there's still conversations to be had.
01:13:44.880 -->
01:13:54.720Well I remember I remember talking with Drummy at AWE when when they first did the big cinema, when they did it for when they first did it with Kef, I think it was.
01:13:54.880 -->
01:13:57.279Obviously, Kef wanted to see all the speakers.
01:13:57.520 -->
01:14:03.439So that expo, they had you know the LCRs, but they were outside of the screen.
01:14:03.600 -->
01:14:14.239So they put the set of speaker below the screen, and and I think if I'm right in thinking, James sort of said to people, give us some feedback, and everybody's like, Oh, you the speaker shouldn't be down there.
01:14:14.319 -->
01:14:19.600All I could hear was the speaker coming, audio coming from up from the floor, blah blah blah, and all this lot.
01:14:20.079 -->
01:14:22.079Fast forward six months, 12 months later.
01:14:22.159 -->
01:14:25.840I think it was, um, they did another one of their expos, I think it was.
01:14:26.000 -->
01:14:34.960Um, and Jamie, uh Jamie sort of uh sorry, James basically took them back in there, everybody sat down and he said, What do you think of the improvements?
01:14:35.039 -->
01:14:35.439Blah blah blah.
01:14:36.079 -->
01:14:36.960Oh, it's so much better.
01:14:37.119 -->
01:14:39.520Thank you for whatever you've done has sounded amazing.
01:14:39.680 -->
01:14:40.479What did you do?
01:14:40.720 -->
01:14:49.760And he just said, I just sprayed the grill black, or you just hid the speaker so you couldn't see it so much in the your line of sight.
01:14:50.079 -->
01:14:58.560And straight away, because the people didn't realise the speaker was below the screen still, they just their mind's eye took it above the screen and put it where it should be.
01:14:58.720 -->
01:15:06.800But because they could see it below the screen and they could see it left and right, they basically were just like, it's wrong, it's not working, blah blah blah.
01:15:06.960 -->
01:15:20.399And again, that's where I've quite liked using invisible speakers, is in those situations where I can't put a ceiling speaker in, I can't put an in-wall speaker in, it's gonna look weird, it's gonna play massively with my OCD.
01:15:20.560 -->
01:15:26.239And I think that whatever brand it is, that basically is where it fits really well into a project.
01:15:26.399 -->
01:15:32.800You don't want to see it, you don't want to ruin the decor, or it might be solving a problem you might have with speaker placement.
01:15:32.960 -->
01:15:35.279Yeah, you just need to make intelligent compromises, really.
01:15:35.359 -->
01:15:44.239But going back to that demo you did, I remember me and Giv had the similar demo when uh they they they just got the speakers in and uh it went from bespoke.
01:15:44.560 -->
01:15:45.520Me and Gif couldn't believe it.
01:15:45.600 -->
01:15:46.560We're like, what do you mean yeah?
01:15:46.640 -->
01:15:48.640What do you mean to send a speakers not by the screws?
01:15:49.039 -->
01:15:49.760No, no, it's down there.
01:15:49.840 -->
01:15:50.640It's like what?
01:15:50.880 -->
01:15:56.720So yeah, we were we were blown away by uh the the voodoo that uh that AWE had created.
01:15:56.800 -->
01:15:58.720But hey, a perfect working solution.
01:15:58.800 -->
01:16:00.720So um yeah, no, word on to those guys.
01:16:00.960 -->
01:16:01.600Exactly.
01:16:01.760 -->
01:16:02.079Right.
01:16:02.159 -->
01:16:04.880The last story is uh I just put this up.
01:16:04.960 -->
01:16:15.439I mean, it's not very relevant to the UK market, but uh as uh Steve summed it up when he basically um uh I'm trying to find the line which he put in.
01:16:15.520 -->
01:16:26.479Uh while a few UK-based installers are likely are unlikely to make the trip, uh, the uh the equipment chosen for the Magnolia 2 demo room is well worth noting.
01:16:26.640 -->
01:16:32.479Yeah, this is Rayleigh in North Carolina, by the way, not Rayleigh and uh in Essex, monitor audio.
01:16:33.119 -->
01:16:42.560So basically, I got sent the press release, which is uh Ascendo Trinov Audio and Christie Unite for a standout home cinema experience.
01:16:42.880 -->
01:16:56.880So the ultra high performance home cinema is set to be a standout attraction at uh audio advice live 2026, the annual event which returns to Rayleigh, North Carolina in August.
01:16:57.039 -->
01:16:59.520Um, I'm just going to write, I'm just going to Rayleigh, darling.
01:16:59.680 -->
01:17:00.800I'll be back in a week.
01:17:01.039 -->
01:17:09.359Um brings together manufactured integrations for three days of demonstrations, seminars, uh, and then he goes on to the UK business.
01:17:09.439 -->
01:17:26.239Uh Ascendo, Trinov Audio, Crystal and Christy, sorry, have combined their flagship technologies to create a system designed to show what can be achieved when advanced room acoustics and professional gray projection are treated as a single integrated experience.
01:17:26.479 -->
01:17:37.199The Dera room builds on last year's award-winning base showcase where Trinov and Ascendo uh presented the latest uh evolution in cylindrical waveforming.
01:17:37.359 -->
01:17:51.439This approach aims to prevent standing waves rather than correcting them, using floor-level front subwoofer ray and rear subwoofers to deliver constant bass and improved transient uh accuracy.
01:17:51.680 -->
01:17:52.640The room was massive.
01:17:52.720 -->
01:17:56.960I mean, it's seven and a half metres by seven and a half metres and got 18 subs in there.
01:17:57.039 -->
01:17:59.359I mean, that's just bonkers for waveforming.
01:17:59.439 -->
01:18:01.680I bet uh I bet Trinov loved it.
01:18:01.920 -->
01:18:21.039Using uh using the Trinov CI processor, the Amplitude 16, then the Trinov immersive audio system built around six of the 18 passive vented subwoofers and the 32 infha sub uh extended base response well below waveforming's operational range.
01:18:21.199 -->
01:18:22.720Going on to the other, going on to Christy.
01:18:22.880 -->
01:18:35.199Christy supplies the visual components with the Chorus 4K 1000 KS laser projector paired with its 135-inch Stuart uh scree uh sorry uh wall screen deluxe.
01:18:35.279 -->
01:18:44.640The projector is a 0.8 inch, oh, it goes on to a lot of stuff that I've only ISO Lubins and 4K uh UHD plus resolution.
01:18:44.960 -->
01:18:47.520That sounds one impressive room, I have to say.
01:18:47.680 -->
01:18:56.159It's uh I'm I'm not going to to uh all the way over to Carolina, uh North Carolina uh to to to see that, but no, it does sound very impressive.
01:18:56.319 -->
01:19:02.720Um but what uh going back to Trinov, uh Altitude CI processor, that's just been upgraded, isn't it?
01:19:02.880 -->
01:19:08.159From 16 to now, is it 32 or 64 max?
01:19:09.199 -->
01:19:12.800They've just up they've just done they've just done the upgrade.
01:19:12.880 -->
01:19:17.600So uh originally it was just 16, which uh is is is great for for most people.
01:19:17.680 -->
01:19:27.840And obviously the the CI processor has got the new GUI, which is much more intuitive and much easier to to use um to install the uh the actual product itself.
01:19:27.920 -->
01:19:41.359But uh yeah, it's going I think it's gone either from third it's from 16 to 32 or 16 to 64, but uh I th it was a bigger number that I think it must be 64 because the number is pretty big in my head, and I was like, wow, that's uh that's a lot of speakers.
01:19:41.600 -->
01:19:42.720Just try and have a look.
01:19:42.880 -->
01:19:53.520Uh the Trilov uh altitude CI processor upgrades up to 32 channels as standard via modular remote licenses with a custom 64 channel version available.
01:19:53.600 -->
01:19:56.079So yeah, it was 32 up to 64.
01:19:56.159 -->
01:19:56.239Yeah.
01:19:56.399 -->
01:20:06.800I uh I mean, if when when we've done many a podcast, I mean I've not actually done a podcast with David, I don't think, this year, um uh apart from obviously when you interviewed him at ISE.
01:20:07.199 -->
01:20:14.479Uh, but uh that was the idea behind the the Ultra to CI was that you buy the license for the amount of channels that you want.
01:20:14.960 -->
01:20:17.359So it it's uh an upgradeable product.
01:20:17.439 -->
01:20:30.000So I think we're certainly seeing more and more sort of high-end systems now where actually running 64 channels in a home cinema, home theatre, is not unheard of these days.
01:20:30.159 -->
01:20:37.439Where you know, maybe go back, you know, three, four, five years ago, the idea of 32 channels was like, you know, mind blowing.
01:20:37.600 -->
01:20:40.640But actually 64 channels is uh is not unheard of.
01:20:40.720 -->
01:20:42.399So not nowadays, that's for sure.
01:20:42.560 -->
01:20:45.680So um, yeah, no, that's uh obviously there's a market out there for it.
01:20:45.760 -->
01:20:49.199And uh if uh we can capitalise on that, then uh yeah, happy days.
01:20:49.439 -->
01:20:49.920Definitely.
01:20:50.000 -->
01:20:51.279So, right, so that's the news.
01:20:51.359 -->
01:21:00.239But don't forget, you can also go to the InsideCI website if you scan the QR code on the screen now or head over to uh insideci.co.uk.
01:21:00.960 -->
01:21:02.640There's loads of other stories on there.
01:21:02.720 -->
01:21:06.560Steve keeps me really busy with my social media posts by putting up stories.
01:21:06.720 -->
01:21:17.920So at the moment you've got Monitor Audio opens up ordering for which is their high-end two-channel speaker system, uh, in up to 200 custom finishes.
01:21:18.079 -->
01:21:26.319Um, Arma Home, a name from many years ago for me, targets growth in the new by appointing a new global sales director.
01:21:26.560 -->
01:21:33.600And I've also been talking to Ricky at Calibrate, but one of the brands they also distribute is uh is XGmy.
01:21:33.920 -->
01:21:44.880Um so X Jimmy have uh announced an Alfin Flip projector, uh, which is a great high level projector, sorry, high brightness level projector with great gaming support.
01:21:45.119 -->
01:22:09.039But I know we've most we've basically spoken about potentially me and Ricky getting together because they've got the uh is the ultra, I think, coming out in September time, which we've sort of like talked about potentially doing our first video sort of conversation about projectors and about different types of projectors and how they fit into your your projects and your your home.
01:22:09.199 -->
01:22:14.800So you can head over to the InsideCI website and catch up with loads more uh stories like that.
01:22:15.039 -->
01:22:20.159Obviously, don't forget to go to insideci.co.uk and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
01:22:20.319 -->
01:22:22.079Um we've got a bit of a refresh.
01:22:22.159 -->
01:22:26.720Uh, I think next week, as we record this, you're gonna get a brand new newsletter.
01:22:26.800 -->
01:22:32.399It's gonna be it's completely redesigned, it's all nice and new, which I've redesigned.
01:22:32.640 -->
01:22:35.600Uh take the the platform forward a little bit.
01:22:35.760 -->
01:22:42.399Website will follow shortly after, maybe into 2027, but that's gonna cost me a damn sight more money than a newsletter upgrade.
01:22:42.560 -->
01:22:44.880So pop over to Inside CI.
01:22:45.119 -->
01:22:46.079Uh and that's it.
01:22:46.319 -->
01:22:49.520Simon, thank you very much for taking your it's Monday, isn't it?
01:22:49.760 -->
01:22:50.640Monday evening up.
01:22:50.880 -->
01:22:51.359No problem.
01:22:51.439 -->
01:22:57.600My stomach is rumbling, so I need to get some food, but I will be looking out for this new uh uh newsletter that you're doing.
01:22:57.760 -->
01:23:03.199Look, check, check your check your spam as well, because a few of mine were were going into there from from previous jet.
01:23:03.600 -->
01:23:09.840That's one reason I've moved it, yeah, because it was within the other platform that I was using for HCA.
01:23:10.079 -->
01:23:17.760I can go in and change the DNS settings on the website, so I can put the lines of code in to say that the it's official.
01:23:17.840 -->
01:23:17.920Wow.
01:23:18.399 -->
01:23:22.000The other platform I the other platform I inherited that it was on before.
01:23:22.079 -->
01:23:22.319Yep.
01:23:22.560 -->
01:23:23.439You couldn't do that.
01:23:23.760 -->
01:23:25.520And that's why it was going into spam.
01:23:25.840 -->
01:23:32.319Yeah, so I'm hoping, and obviously it's a lot cleaner, it's a lot modern, is all I can say.
01:23:32.479 -->
01:23:33.279So have a look.
01:23:33.359 -->
01:23:34.560I'm hoping to do it next week.
01:23:34.800 -->
01:23:39.439Maybe I'll be the week after, but hopefully in August we'll we'll get that up.
01:23:39.600 -->
01:23:43.359Um one thing I've just remembered, you're not wearing an England shirt.
01:23:43.600 -->
01:23:45.760No, no, after we won the World Cup.
01:23:45.920 -->
01:23:47.359Oh no, that didn't happen.
01:23:47.439 -->
01:23:53.119Uh no, we got we got beaten by uh Argentina and uh Spain won the World Cup.
01:23:53.199 -->
01:23:55.359So the the rightful winners of the tournament.
01:23:55.439 -->
01:23:56.479So well done, Spain.
01:23:56.640 -->
01:23:58.239We won the People's World Cup for it.
01:23:58.319 -->
01:23:58.960Oh, did we come third?
01:23:59.119 -->
01:24:00.960Where we yeah, where we beat France.
01:24:01.119 -->
01:24:01.439Yeah.
01:24:02.000 -->
01:24:05.199Technically, we should come second because they should kick our teeth out.
01:24:05.279 -->
01:24:06.640But anyway, we won't go there.
01:24:06.800 -->
01:24:07.359We won't go there.
01:24:07.840 -->
01:24:10.479But I have got my new t-shirt on that uh that you kindly give me.
01:24:10.640 -->
01:24:14.239So inside CI T-shirt, um uh looking smart.
01:24:14.319 -->
01:24:20.800It is very thick, so I'm very hot and melting because it is getting warmer out there, getting back to 32 degrees.
01:24:20.880 -->
01:24:21.520So thanks for it.
01:24:21.680 -->
01:24:25.359And I feel really bad because I haven't got my inside CI for the shocking.
01:24:25.520 -->
01:24:30.560But well, because it's washed and iron, because I've got a soddisting to go to later in the week, so I wanted to wear it for that.
01:24:31.039 -->
01:24:32.159See more than once, Stuart.
01:24:32.479 -->
01:24:35.680And this hot I have, but this hot this room is so bloody hot.
01:24:35.840 -->
01:24:38.319Simon, where can people find you online?
01:24:38.880 -->
01:24:45.119So, yeah, all the uh socials, so Instagram, Twitter, we've actually been contacted not Twitter, sorry, uh LinkedIn.
01:24:45.199 -->
01:24:50.560Uh we've actually been contacted on LinkedIn very uh for various different things, which uh I need to speak to you about.
01:24:50.640 -->
01:25:04.079But um yeah, no, so uh so inside uh CI guys, you can contact me on Instagram, WhatsApp, we're on YouTube as well, and obviously we've got our uh website cinema rooms.co.uk.
01:25:04.399 -->
01:25:06.640And on socials, that's cinema rooms.
01:25:08.079 -->
01:25:15.279So on Instagram, LinkedIn, and uh yeah, that's the best ones to contact us on for anything you want to discuss.
01:25:15.760 -->
01:25:16.239Excellent.
01:25:16.399 -->
01:25:21.840So if you want to get hold of me, me personally, uh my social media's mainly are at Mr.
01:25:22.000 -->
01:25:38.239Stuart Burgess, but otherwise you'll pretty much find me um at InsideCI News or at inside underscore, sorry, at insideCI underscore UK, because someone's got inside CI in Japan somewhere that post once every three years and I can't get it off them.
01:25:39.199 -->
01:25:43.439Email me at hello insideci.com.uk.
01:25:43.680 -->
01:25:45.279I'm trying to figure it now, it's.com, isn't it?
01:25:45.359 -->
01:25:47.199Hello at insideci.com.
01:25:47.439 -->
01:25:56.560Uh, if you want to get involved in the integrators voice, if you want to come on the podcast, if you've got something to talk about, um, or you want to be part of the forum when I get it off the ground.
01:25:56.720 -->
01:26:01.439But uh, so I thank you very much for your time and uh I'm gonna go and have some dinner.
01:26:01.600 -->
01:26:02.560No problem at all, Stuart.
01:26:02.640 -->
01:26:05.520Thanks for having us, and uh yeah, enjoy the rest of your summer.
01:26:05.680 -->
01:26:06.079Excellent.
01:26:06.159 -->
01:26:07.119Cheers, guys, see you soon.
01:26:07.520 -->
01:26:08.640Cheers, bye-bye.
