CEDIA 2016 is coming to Dallas on September 13-17. CE Pro spoke to Kevin Main, president and CEO of Torus Power, about the company's plans for the show and what to expect in booth #1305.
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What would you say to dealers who have only 5 minutes to spare OR who are already familiar with your product line?
I would say, first, not to assume you know everything about Torus Power, as we’re often a misunderstood brand that works well with other products in the power category but is wholly differentiated.
Many people mistake our technology as power conditioning. We actually focus on power isolation which is a very different technology that has huge benefits for custom installation projects.
At CEDIA we will be showing many of our larger/custom solutions to showcase our unique market position and to help better educate attendees on when, where, why, and how to integrate Torus Power into high-performance installations large and small.
Because we also specialize in delivering solutions for 20Amp and larger installations, we will be showing several models that are designed for large-scale custom installations such as our Wall Mount AVR panel. We will also show our All-In-One panel, which is becoming increasingly popular.
The All-In-One panel is the ultimate solution for custom installers. It was initially designed for recording studios by Arthur Kelm, who is both VP/General Manager/Chief Engineer for Capitol Studios, part of the Capitol Music Group, and also CEO of Ground One AV Inc., a consulting firm that addresses the specific power and grounding requirements of professional recording facilities and high end home installations.
Arthur Kelm sounds like an incredibly talented and valuable resource. Tell us more about him.
Arthur Kelm’s list of clients reads like a who's who of the entertainment industry. In addition to his work with Capitol Studios, Arthur has been Director of Engineering for Record One, The Complex, Record Plant Studios, Skywalker Sound and consultant for Walt Disney Imagineering.
He brings his vast and varied experience, technical knowledge, and impeccable reputation to the marketplace. He now focuses his energies full time on problem solving and creating solutions, like the All-in-One panel he developed for Torus Power.
The All-In-One panel offers an incredible power solution for custom theaters that is very unique, in that it includes a complete breaker panel that can easily manage a theater and multiple TVs or other components in different locations all off of one unit. It simplifies larger projects and has become a popular choice.
Help our readers better understand the Power category. What is the exact difference between power isolation, power conditioning, and UPS?
In our industry there are many technologies that are designed to improve the incoming voltage path so that you get the best possible performance and enjoyment from your audio video system.
Power conditioning units use a series of external filters to provide clean voltage to your audio video system. An inverter, or power regenerator unit, does a wonderful job of delivering a pure sine wave output and if you add a UPS system you can even deliver a pure sign wave output even when utility power is lost. The limitation of all of these technologies is the ability to deliver high dynamic current for power hungry components like audio amplifiers. Providing high instantaneous current to dynamic components can transform your overall system performance.
At Torus Power, we use toroidal isolation transformers to electrically disconnect (isolate) your audio video and control system from the voltage path. Through this process we offer state of the art noise isolation and protection for connected equipment, but we also add a dramatic overall improvement in system performance because of our high instantaneous output current. This is where we really differ from other technologies.
Competitively speaking, many companies offer 15A & 20A options for systems, yet Torus Power delivers a different assortment of amp levels. Why did you choose to offer more options? How do those options benefit the integrator and, ultimately, the consumer?
We recognized very early on that the very best power foundation and improved system performance is achieved by providing a power solution that is electrically matched to the client’s equipment. We work closely with home technology integrators to evaluate the power signature of the entire system and then we provide a customized solution to match the system’s power requirement.
This often means that we are specifying a 60A, 75A, 90A or even larger solution to provide the best foundation possible for performance and reliability. We have learned that paying attention to the foundational products of power and networking systems at the outset makes such a positive, significant difference in the end result.
You’ve noted that the Torus Power Wall Mount offering is a differentiator in the market for Torus. Can you explain why and share some examples of how an Integrator would utilize these products?
Operating a company that provides large, customized solutions means being flexible to the needs of integrators and installers and providing products that help make the installations easier and better.
Our wall mount series allows integrators to run power to multiple system racks and other locations from one power source. This keeps all the system grounds on the same potential and frees up room in the equipment racks that is often taken up by specifying multiple power units. We also offer the flexibility of monitoring and controlling the entire power system from one unit. It is a simpler, more effective way of building a system foundation for larger projects.
Torus Power also has an “All-in-One” product offering that differentiates Torus from other vendors. Tell us why this makes you different and give us some examples of how an Integrator can use these products for the benefit of the consumer?
The Torus Power All-In-One panel was designed by Arthur Kelm to meet the power needs of an entire recording studio from one customized panel. It is imperative for recording studios to have the lowest noise floor possible and still provide dynamic power to the equipment in the studio, and Arthur engineered a solution that has a large 12.5KVA isolation transformer built in to a high quality electrical panel to deliver the ultimate power foundation for recording studios.
Because Arthur’s business also takes him into the high end residential world he started installing these All-In-One panels in some of these projects and it has really caught on. Home technology specialists love the flexibility of running multiple A/V rooms off one panel and we sell more All-In-One panels today for residential projects.
Last year Torus introduced the TOT AVR, including a new, lower price-point for AVR technology. We've heard it's been a great success since its debut (and CE Pro BEST Award win). How has the response been with dealers and customers?
Our new TOT AVR model has really become an important part of our product line. Customers were asking us to put the automated voltage regulation feature set into a smaller package and our engineers found a way and delivered it at a terrific price point. We are now selling this unit to customers with A/V receivers and integrated amplifiers, and everyone loves the combination of voltage regulation, protection and high performance in a small, compact chassis.
What would you say to those who question the need for power components?
Let’s face it, when you are building products that are used at the foundation of the audio/video system it is just not sexy. Everyone wants the granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors and we are selling the concrete foundation!
The fact is though, the better your foundation is, the better the end product will be and the longer it will last. The power category is growing, and more and more integrators and technology professionals are recognizing the benefits of using Torus Power as a foundational product.
That’s partly why Torus Power has been growing at a rate of between 30 percent to 40 percent every year, and why we are focusing our energies on the custom integration category. This is where we see the most need and the greatest opportunity for significant growth.
Torus Power will be exhibiting at CEDIA 2016 in booth #1305.
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