There was a time when home theaters sold themselves. And now after surviving the recession, the home theater category is back and thriving once again.

Driven by state-of-the-art video technologies such as 4K, high-dynamic range (HDR) and wide-color gamuts (WCG), the video category is offering the best picture consumer electronics has ever seen.

The audio category is also pulling its weight with object-based surround sound formats Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D, which places viewers in the center of an immersive audio experience.

Projectors Aren’t the Only A/V Products to Employ Lasers

Supporting home theater’s renaissance are companies like Triad Speakers. The Portland, Ore.-based manufacturer has been a supporter of Dolby Atmos since the format first transitioned from the commercial cinema industry and into the home video market.

Adding to its selection of Atmos-compatible products, Triad is introducing its new RotaSat in-ceiling loudspeaker at CEDIA 2016. Director of engineering for Triad, David Nelson, says the company’s latest architectural speaker complements Triad’s rich history of designing sealed in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeakers as well as products that enable Dolby’s advanced surround sound format in home environments.

“We’ve been working with Dolby before Atmos was released … the RotaSat was developed with Atmos in mind,” says Nelson. “It [the RotaSat] came from a discussion with a dealer last year at CEDIA that wanted to put in other Triad products with square grilles. It came from that and what we came up with is a rotating speaker underneath the grille that allows for the aiming of the woofer and tweeter independently.”

Like the company’s previous efforts to produce Atmos-friendly loudspeakers, Triad teamed with Dolby for the development of the RotaSat. Nelson is quick to point out, however, that the product is more than a one-trick pony.

“It can be pointed to the listener or it can be pointed toward the wall to help create a virtual surround,” says Nelson. “But you can also use it as a normal speaker. The drivers are on axis, but you can change that if you want to. It’s a sealed-box speaker with a built-in laser with the tweeter so you can aim the tweeter.”

Emphasizing the RotaSat's flexibility, Nelson notes the speaker utilizes the same driver complement as Triad’s In-Ceiling Silver Sat, and it adds the option of the rotating baffle.

“We can precisely pinpoint the tweeter because of the laser, but what really makes the speaker is the square grille. You can do this with a round speaker, but the look is not the same with round grilles everywhere,” notes Nelson. “The square grille complements in-wall subs. The RotaSat disappears—it looks like it belongs.”

Welcome to the Great Outdoors

While known for its architectural products, Triad isn’t shying away from the surging outdoor market either. The company is also debuting new outdoor products designed to provide dealers with a lot of flexibility.

CEDIA attendees can see the Garden Array series of speakers and a new outdoor subwoofer at the Triad Speakers booth. The Garden Array series will provide options such as 8-ohm/70-volt/100-volt to allow dealers to spec systems based on any variable they encounter, and the subwoofer will provide options for in-ground burial or above-ground installations. An external amplifier powers the sub, and Nelson says the sub’s install options are designed to complement the needs of homeowners.

“The sub plays lower than current products out there, and it uses our own dedicated amplifier,” says Nelson. “The sub enclosure can be buried and there is an optional burial kit. The other kit is a porch option that puts legs on the sub. We can also custom paint the porch version to match the paint of the house. We spend time on the paint too. We also have an on-wall bracket speaker too. We can paint the speaker and bracket, and this is all similar to our other painting options. It’s the same philosophy. We charge extra for the outdoor paint, but there is also more involved. It is unique.”

Industry Icon Bully on the Future

Stepping back from the product discussion Larry Pexton, president of Triad Speakers, affirms the audio category’s newly found prosperity. Pexton says that from Triad’s perspective the market is doing well and in Triad’s case the company is experiencing sales growth.

Not surprisingly, Pexton admits that Atmos makes up a noticeable portion of its sales efforts and that the home theater market, which includes content, offers consumer an “extraordinary” choice of solutions.

“We have never had this type of access to this type of content in audio and video ever before without an absurd investment,” says Pexton. “Video with HDR is very compelling, and it’s coming soon to sports, as well as movies and TV entertainment. It’s just starting now, and it will be a fun ride for several years.”

Pexton jokes that “survival is our goal at CEDIA” because the show doesn’t really allow for enough time to explain Triad to attendees. This year is a perfect example of the dilemma the company faces because of all the new products Triad is introducing during the event.

But one thing is different this year: 2016 is the first time Pexton isn't actively involved in CEDIA industry trade organization happenings during the show. This means he has more time to spend with attendees in the Triad booth.

“It will be nice to spend more time with people in the booth,” he says.

Triad is exhibiting in booth number 4712, and once the show concludes, dealers can expect the new products to ship in late October.

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