CE Pro of the Week: Dean Rockwell, Grand Home Automation

Each week, we aim to provide an informative - yet colorful - profile of one of your fellow CE pros.

How would you use Twitter to describe what your company does (140 character limit)?

Grand Home Automation delivers the fine art of living! Our emphasis is electronics design & integration, our specialty: large scale projects.

What one characteristic sets your company apart from other CE pros?

My background is in industrial automation and control systems integration. We promote true system design at the onset of the project. Many firms claim to install designed systems, but we have seen too much evidence to the contrary when we get called in to service other firms failed projects.

What can CE pros learn from your company to make them think differently and run their business better?

Our market is the luxury segment of the industry. What might be an acceptable level of quality and service for my own home is not necessarily the goal. We need to continually remind ourselves of how that type of owner lives and provide a service level beyond their expectation.

What’s the wildest request you’ve ever had for an installation?

To design our automation system in a manner worthy of a 1,000-year home. The vision of the owner was that the home he was constructing should be built to last, and last, and last. The home took 10 years to construct.

What is your 3D strategy and do you think the technology will live up to the hype?

We try to demonstrate restraint when new technologies hit the market, rather waiting to see what methods and products demonstrate the ability to be a successful solution for our clients needs.

Not everyone likes the 3D experience, and it surely is limited in how it can be applied to the lifestyle of a given family.

What is your absolute favorite piece of audio demo material?

I use many different audio tracks for evaluating audio calibration. If I had to choose just one for traditional stereo demonstration, it would be the group Nickel Creek and their album of the same name. With a contemporary bluegrass style focused on vocals and stringed instruments, it is a great way to help someone experience true stereo audio imaging for the first time.

Give “The Lighthouse’s Tale” [track] a try with a decent two-channel setup — amazing!

What is your absolute favorite piece of video demo material?

My current go-to demo for video is “The Incredibles.” It isn’t loaded with gratuitous violence and is safe for the whole family, yet has some very exciting scenes.

I like the dynamic audio range demonstrated in a few of the scenes, going from a quiet jungle with ambient sounds, then jumping into a fight with a gigantic robot.

It is amazing how good the video from a standard DVD can look, even when displayed through an anamorphic 2.35:1 setup.

Soon it will be available on Blu-ray as well — I can’t wait!

What is something most people don't know about you?

I am a crossword puzzle aficionado.

I also like to design and build things. I enjoy all aspects of the building industry and have built each of the last three homes I have lived in.

Want to be a CE Pro of the Week? .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with "CE Pro of the Week" in the subject line and I'll ask you some questions.


Rockwell recommends "Nickel Creek" by Nickel Creek for audio demos.