All Articles Tagged Ehx Spring 2010

Julie Jacobson | 05/19 08:07 AM, 5 Comments

Trade shows should be free. That's what you all seemed to say when EH Publishing, the parent company of CE Pro, charged dealers a nominal fee ($50 to $100) to attend EHX Spring in March. Although the value was undeniable - all the training you could consume, including otherwise pricey CEDIA courses and the industry's first lead paint removal certification - dealers still griped about the price of admission. Why? Certainly not because of the financial burden, but because the model was different. Dealers are so used to getting free… View this story

Robert Archer | 04/16 10:18 AM, 0 Comments

Demo Alley has been a longtime favorite of EHX attendees. At EHX Spring 2010, it was clear that manufacturers, reps, and installers are driving home the value perspective to consumers. While Epson, THIEL Audio and B&K emphasized value and style, Zagg, Monitor Audio and SIM2 showcased new technological advancements. Below is the list of Best of Demo Alley (BODA) winners and my evaluation on each of the demo rooms. Demo Alley Winners Best Audio Demo Thiel AudioBest Video Demo JVC ProfessionalMost Informative Audio Demo Thiel AudioMost Informative Video Demo LK… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 04/16 09:10 AM, 1 Comment

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)? We provide our clients with simple and elegant integrated solutions that improve and enhance their homes and lifestyle experiences. After you complete a project, what do you think your typical client tells his friend about the experience? “You must meet my eccentric lighting designer! He answered all my questions and came up with a unique design.”… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 04/13 09:38 AM, 0 Comments

CE pros not already certified as lead renovators under the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule, which goes into effect April 22, are probably getting nervous. Those not in compliance face $37,500 per day penalties, according to CEDIA. Companies affected include:Those working in residences built before 1978Those working in buildings occupied by pregnant women or children under six built before 1978Those renovating, repairing or painting in areas more than six square feet in an interior room or 20 square feet on an exterior wallThose replacing windows and/or doorsTo… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 03/30 06:58 AM, 3 Comments

After experiencing a 7.8 percent drop in 2009, the CE industry is poised for 0.2 percent growth in 2010 and will reach $165.3 billion in factory sales, according to the CEA TechHome Division's 8th Annual State of the Builder Technology Market Study, which was presented at EHX Spring 2010. "Our outlook is for flat growth," said CEA chief economist Shawn Dubravac when asked about the first quarter of 2010. "We think the recession ended in July 2009," Dubravac said, adding that the CE industry weathered it "relatively well." "We've started… View this story

Jason Knott | 03/29 10:55 AM, 0 Comments

Middle Atlantic's racks are getting downright sexy. On a more serious note, Middle Atlantic was showing off its new Residential Designer Rack (RDR) series at EHX Spring, touting an aesthetic appeal making it well suited to be on display in a home vs. hidden in closet like racks usually are. According to Jay Franetovich, application engineer at Middle Atlantic, the pre-configured rack has "four pillars" of configuration: Cable managementThermal managementBuilt-in power distribution stripAestheticsThe unit ships loaded with the accessories. From a visual standpoint, the wood and metal unit has sleekly… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 03/29 07:04 AM, 0 Comments

For the audience, attending the EHX CE Pro All-Star Band concert during EHX Spring 2010 in Orlando, Fla. was a can’t-lose situation. If the performance flopped, it still would have been entertaining since the band is made up of regular CE industry professionals — amateurs who happen to love performing music. If their performance rocked, well, then they were in for a good show. They definitely didn’t flop and definitely rocked. The show went off without a hitch and the band simply sounded great, covering dozens of class rock staples.… View this story

Robert Archer | 03/26 07:49 AM, 1 Comment

Thiel Audio and Bryston, partners in Demo Alley at EHX Spring, debuted new products during their live demos. Thiel showed the SCS4T, a small footprint floorstanding version of its SCS4 bookshelf loudspeaker that uses the same driver configuration, cabinet volume and crossover network as the SCS4. The difference, according to Ken Dawkins, VP of North American Sales, is the SCS4T's integrated stand that allows installers to use the speakers as a freestanding solution without adding stands to accommodate their in-room placement. Dawkins says the SCS4T will be available soon with… View this story

Jason Knott | 03/26 07:19 AM, 6 Comments

Donning hazmat suits (from left), Joe Tooley, Brantley Waites and Jim DeWitt took the EPA lead paint certification course at EHX Spring. Dealers attending the CEDIA-sponsored Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead paint removal training at EHX Spring see it as a major differentiator for their businesses and a big-time detriment for companies that do not obtain the certification. It's not just a matter of the non-certified companies being susceptible to a $37,500 fine per company per day for working on a pre-1978 home, it's the potential that future clients will… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 03/25 09:17 PM, 3 Comments

ZAGGbox on display at EHX Spring 2010 ZAGGbox debuted its 1TB digital media center and cloud-based content sharing device at CES 2010. Two months later at EHX Spring 2010, the media aggregator/personal media server already has plenty of updates. ZAGGbox users can record, store and play DVR content, photos, videos and movies with the Apple-friendly box, which acts as a server for a personalized Web site on which all the content can be accessed remotely. There’s also an “unlimited ability to add storage,” says Brian Packer, VP of marketing. Unlike… View this story