How Commercial Lighting Control Is an Eco-Friendly & Eye-Catching Choice

Upgrade your lights and save money. It is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption. By installing an energy-efficient commercial lighting control system at your business in Honolulu, HI, you improve the appearance of your property – inside and out – and give your budget a boost. 

Want to discover all the benefits of integrating new lighting with a commercial automation system? Read more to learn how a controlled lighting system offers many options, including the ability to manually and automatically adjust any number of lights throughout your building.

Money-Saving and Energy-Saving

How would you like to reduce your company’s energy usage by 20%? With a state-of-the-art commercial lighting system, you control every aspect of the lighting on your property. This helps you remotely adjust lights in areas that aren’t in use. In fact, it can be done automatically by programming scenes or using motion sensor lights. Also, LED lights are 80% more energy efficient compared to incandescent bulbs. That means big savings for your business.

That’s what Pacific Audio & Communications achieved after installing a building automation and commercial lighting control system for Del Dotto Winery. We received the CEDIA award for “Best Innovative System or Solution” for the project. From integrated security to smart lighting, we brought every technology together under one centralized system for Del Dotto Winery.

Lights That Are Easy to Operate

You may think that an innovative lighting system is complicated to use, but it’s just the opposite.

Create the Ultimate Outdoor Living Setup with Lighting

Lighting has a way of transforming our surroundings completely, both indoors and outside. As you find yourself at home these days, you shouldn’t have to stay cooped up inside. With incredible outdoor living solutions for your Hawaii backyard and patio area, you can elevate your outside spaces in new and aesthetically pleasing ways.

In this blog, we’ll take you through the outdoor lighting basics and what they can do to brighten up your home’s exteriors. Want to find out more?

Keep reading on below!

SEE ALSO: Want to Enjoy the Summer Nights? Landscape Lighting Can Help

Set the Mood

If you want to catch up on a book on the patio, enjoy a movie night with family, or splash around in the pool in the evening, your lighting has a significant impact on the atmosphere of it all. And in the future, when you once again host parties and events – lighting can make or break the mood!

Ensure that Your Network Connection Stays Well-Protected
Today

Now that more and more people are working from home these days in light of COVID-19, network systems both in the home and at the offices are at risk. Hackers and privacy-violations are threats you don’t want to have to deal with, but you might not be considering these issues until they’re right in front of you.

But you can avoid these security risks by having robust networking solutions at your Hawaii residential and commercial spaces. Whether it’s in your living space or your company that might not be operating as usual, you can use a professional network installation.

In this blog, we’ll dive into how this upgrade can keep your home or business safe. Read on below to learn more!

SEE ALSO: 3 Things to Look for in a Smart Home Company

Home Network Connectivity & Performance

Spending more time at home can get chaotic once your technologies start to fail you. With more people inside, your home network is more likely to become overcrowded as its bandwidth simply cannot take so many connected devices running and using the internet at once.

PAC will stay open as a federally mandated essential business

As businesses close throughout the country to aid in social distancing and halting the spread of COVID-19, we have been designated by the government as an essential business that may remain open to support our community during this time. That being said, we’re not conducting business as usual. Your safety is greatly important to us, which is why we’ve implemented special steps to protect clients and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak in the US. You can explore the steps we’ve taken here.

Technology integrators have been labeled an essential business by the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) in large part since we’re vital to homeowners setting up home offices and learning environments. Integrators are also recognized for their role in keeping a strong networking infrastructure throughout the country as other essential organizations also need support during this challenging time. 

During this critical period, we are committed to helping our clients stay connected, support remote learning for the nation’s children, and protect our clients’ properties and families. 

Though networking and communications infrastructure are the primary reasons for our essential business designation, we will also be available for any service, support, and installation of vital home technology systems including security, surveillance, lighting control, entertainment, and more. A strong network is essential for much of the country right now, and we are here to support your needs.

PAC is following and exceeding CDC and WHO guidelines to the point that we are wiping phones down. We are still going into homes but are calling prior to doing so, in order to make sure no one has been sick or quarantined. Our team wants to ensure social distancing is practiced in the house, and we will clean as we go through the house and before we leave it.

COVID-19 and Cybersecurity

In today’s complex and interconnected world virtually no major event occurs without an associated cyber threat. The COVID-19 pandemic is exception. As all of us work to mitigate this threat, we should be aware of how cybersecurity impacts us in doing so.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns individuals to remain vigilant for scams related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cyber actors may send emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts or calls related to COVID-19.

CISA encourages individuals to remain vigilant and take the following precautions.

• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. See Using Caution with Email Attachments and Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Scams for more information.
   
• Use trusted sources—such as legitimate government websites—for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19.
   
• Do not reveal personal or financial information in email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information.
   
• Verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations. Review the Federal Trade Commission’s page on Charity Scams for more information.
   
• Review CISA Insights on Risk Management for COVID-19 for more information.”[1]

In addition, threats may take on the form of websites providing critical information to the public. For example, according to both CISA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a malicious website pretending to be Johns Hopkins University’s live map for Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases is circulating on the internet waiting for unwitting internet users to visit the website.

Visiting the website infects the user with the AZORult trojan, an information-stealing program that can exfiltrate a variety of sensitive data. It is likely being spread via infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements and social engineering. Furthermore, anyone searching the internet for a coronavirus map could unwittingly navigate to this malicious website.

While dedicated attacks to interfere with or slow response to this crisis remain a concern at federal and state levels, the primary cyber-related concerns for most of us related to COVID-19 include:

The team at PAC is keeping an eye on all the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and around the world, and we are taking all necessary precautions to keep our employees, clients and community safe during this time. Health precautions and protocols in line with WHO and CDC directives are taking place throughout our organization to reduce the spread of disease. Every day our team reviews up-to-date recommendations to ensure we’re doing everything to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Though these may change over time, here are the current steps we are taking to reduce the risks associated with this novel coronavirus:

• Every technician is equipped with hand-sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean their hands. It is also readily available at our showrooms, offices and work sites to be used by all of our employees. In addition, all employees must wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F ​​[37.8° C​] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees are instructed to notify their supervisor and their healthcare provider immediately upon experiencing any symptoms.
• Measures are in place to address employees who have recently traveled or have family members who have tested positive for COVID-19. They will go through a CDC-directed risk assessment for potential exposure and be directed to stay home if necessary. 
• Disinfectant wipes are readily available throughout our job sites and permanent locations to wipe down frequently touched surfaces including workstations, countertops, doorknobs, remotes, and touchpanels. In the field, our installers also have wipes handy to wipe down tools and equipment before and after each use.
• Our installers are following strict on-site health and safety guidelines including the use of disposable gloves and sterilization products. 
• We will refrain from shaking hands with clients, and will maintain recommended distances while in your home or business.
• Our technicians are willing to wear N95 masks in your home or business upon request, and are performing necessary sterilization methods before, during and after being on the job-site. Necessary supplies will be on them and in the vans.
• Employees have flexible sick leave policies that offer them the ability to care for themselves and family when needed. 

We appreciate your trust during these unprecedented times, and we take the health and wellbeing of our clients and employees very seriously. To protect our staff, we also ask that our clients communicate if anyone in your home or business is experiencing symptoms or has been exposed to the virus. We also ask that you follow the CDC's guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 while we are on-site. If you have any questions about these precautions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Think Beyond Your Conference Room Automation!

As business owners, sometimes we inordinately focus on external factors when determining both current business success and scalability. For example, we might count the number of clients we have and how much they bring in, or how many business partners you might nab on your next trip. While these are all critical factors, it often pays to look at internal elements when you’re ready to scale.

An internal focus means ensuring that your employees have everything they need to succeed and grow your business. Is your conference room automation speedy or intuitive enough for your junior salesperson’s first video-conference presentation? Does your peer leader have a small, quiet area to start a breakout coaching session? Let’s look at three rooms that every Kailua Kona, HI, business needs to thrive in the new decade.

SEE ALSO: The Most Unexpected Commercial AV Applications We’ve Installed

Conference Room

Of course, we can’t fail to mention that we design and install conference room automation. That’s where you bring in large groups of clients to discuss important matters, host conference lunches or impress prospects. Your largest meeting spaces should handle all of your needs, and those shifting requirements might involve many moving parts. For example, you might need beamforming microphones to pick up more voices around the room, motorized shades to block ambient light from a projector screen or in-wall speakers to distribute your audio. PAC’s conference room installations have you covered when you need a room that impresses every time.

Conference rooms have their uses, but too many business owners overuse them for a lack of more suitable options. Below you’ll find a more efficient way to manage smaller groups.

Pacific Audio & Communications Takes AV Installations to Breweries, Wineries and Beyond

If you own a business in Kaiula Kona, HI, or are interested in how other people operate theirs, we know you’ve heard about some of the benefits of commercial audio video installation. We’ve installed many corporate, restaurant and retail AV systems that have clients excited about boosting their customer base, upselling products, engaging employees and more.

But maybe you didn’t know how we could serve three markets that were untapped by AV updates for too long. Keep reading to find out some unexpected verticals we’ve reached, including the project that won us a CEDIA award.

SEE ALSO: Take a Look at Our Del Dotto Winery Project, Featuring Full Automation!

Wineries

We recently crossed the ocean to help a Napa Valley winery reach its full potential with AV systems and automation. We brought smart security, climate control, audio, video, lighting and more together as we modernized Del Dotto’s sprawling, architectural space. We’re very proud to say that our ambitious Del Dotto Winery project earned us CEDIA’s “Best Innovative System or Solution” in 2019.

As you might expect, PAC automated Del Dotto’s famous winery with tasting room AV. Wineries also allow us to help behind the scenes, too. By automating the wine caves’ temperature controls, we can ensure wines are at the perfect settings during fermentation. And if there is any change in temperature or an issue that arises, the system immediately lets the employees know so that they can tend to the wine immediately.

The B&W
Formation Suite Has the Design and Performance to Wow Your Favorite Audiophile

When it comes to getting the perfect gift for an audiophile, sometimes it gets a little challenging. Audiophiles love excellent sound quality wherever they listen – in their car, from their headphones, from a portable speaker, and certainly from their home audio system.

Sometimes audiophile gear is not the most aesthetically pleasing. It can be imposing and bulky. There’s quite a bit of so-called lifestyle audio equipment available now, but much of it doesn’t meet audiophile performance standards.

One company set out to change that. Bowers and Wilkins is well known in audio circles for its superb speakers. Recently it introduced the Formation Suite, a fresh take on home audio, deftly blending the latest wireless technology, beautiful design, and high performance into one stylish line of audio equipment.

Is the Formation Suite the perfect home audio gift for your picky audiophile in Kailua Kona, Hawaii? Read on to find out.

SEE ALSO: Why Invest in High-End Audio?

Check Out the Winning Project of CEDIA’s “Best Innovative System or Solution” Award

Here at Pacific Audio and Communications, we’re beyond proud to announce that a full automation project we brought to life for a Napa Valley winery has received the CEDIA award for “Best Innovative System or Solution.” Our goal for this installation was to ensure that every guest who visits the Del Dotto Winery and Vineyard will feel the detailed and luxurious atmosphere of the space, while now being able to benefit from the new smart features and solutions.

From integrated security and climate control to smart lighting and sound system installations, we brought every technology together under one centralized system – making it easy for employees to manage the place and to have it set for every guest and patron in every location.

We’ve brought these smart solutions to residences and buildings in Maui, HI and surrounding areas, and now all the way to the Napa Valley. Keep reading below to see how we incorporated these features into this full automation installation.

SEE ALSO: A Sound System for a Sound Business

Lighting and Climate Control

Lighting has a significant impact on both the appearance and feel of an entire space. So with the winery, we aimed to bring in both comfort and elegance. This was done by installing both interior and exterior lighting throughout the landscape, from paths and walkways to patio and tree lighting. Inside, tasting rooms, kitchens, touring caves, and event or dining rooms had fixtures put into place as well.

Pacific Audio & Communications Is Well-Equipped to Help. Here’s How.

If you’re an architect working in the Kauai, HI, area, you know that today’s client has changing needs and sometimes an extensive list of demands. The modern customer consumes an influx of media every day, and chances are, they’ve heard of tunable lighting and its various perks.

Studies show that it offers significant benefits for a homeowner’s health, both physical and mental. It’s been cited to improve sleep, help people wind down after work and increase daytime productivity – even work performance. The industry usually calls it “human-centric lighting,” but “tunable” and “circadian” lighting were once common terms for it as well. Few would argue that restful sleep, productive days and a positive mindset are just a luxury, so you might not want to miss this opportunity to provide these residential lighting design features for your clients.

No matter what you call it, your homeowners are most likely looking for lighting that suits their design tastes and syncs effortlessly with the rest of their homes. By partnering with Pacific Audio & Communications, you’ll be just the resource valuable clients need. Keep reading below to see where we can bridge the gap!

SEE ALSO: Why Builders and Designers Need an Integrator for Lighting Projects

Why Tunable Lighting?

Our bodies were designed to rise and sleep according to a natural pattern determined by the sun. The sun emits more energetic light during the noon and early afternoon hours, which appears to us as a bright, cool white. This light, in turn, stimulates productivity and energy to tackle mid-afternoon tasks. During sunset hours, we notice a warmer, amber glow. This lower-energy lighting produces more melatonin, giving us a relaxed, sleepy feeling that encourages mellow evenings and better sleep.

Why Automated Window Treatments Are Superior to Manual Ones

Are you considering bringing motorized shades to your Kauai, HI living space? You might not be certain of what makes this integrated solution so appealing to other homeowners. How much more beneficial could automated shades be, compared to manual ones?

We’re here to tell you that motorized window treatments are far superior to standard drapery and shading. There is so much more that automated shades bring to the table; in this blog, we’ll show you how this smart feature from Lutron can elevate your lifestyle and whole home.

Want to learn more? Just keep reading below.

SEE ALSO: Explore Our
Lighting and Shading Services Here!

Comfort & Convenience

With just a press of a button, you can have your shades raise or lower at your convenience. There won’t be any need to get out stools or chairs to stand on in order to reach high-up blinds or shades. If you have large, beautiful bay windows, you can simply use your device to adjust the shades with no hassle at all.

Improve Your Home’s Style, Security and Efficiency with Solutions from Lutron

Few home automation systems offer as many benefits as quickly as automated lighting and shades. With these systems in place, you get one-touch control over all your home’s fixtures and shades, letting you customize your lighting in new, exciting ways while also improving your energy efficiency.

If you’re unfamiliar with the nuances of lighting control and motorized shades, it may be difficult to know where to start. As a Lutron dealer, Pacific Audio and Communications has the perfect system for the lights and shades in your Kailua-Kona, HI home. In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of Lutron’s premier automation solutions.

SEE ALSO: Want to Enjoy the Summer Nights? Landscape Lighting Can Help

Lighting Control

Lutron lighting control systems offer many aesthetic and convenience benefits. For example, your system can automatically turn off all your lights when you leave for work every morning and then turn them back on once it detects you near your front door. You can also simplify your daily routines with automated schedules. Your lights will gradually get brighter in the morning when it’s time to wake up and then slowly dim in the evening when it’s time for bed. Finally, you can design lighting scenes for different occasions, using dimmers to create striking new combinations of color and shadow.

Lutron’s wireless solutions make centralized control over all your fixtures simple. Their RadioRA 2 system can support up to 200 devices, so you can start small and build out or jump right in if you’re feeling bold. For larger projects, the HomeWorksQS system supports up to 10,000 devices and gives you integrated control with Lutron smart thermostats.

Work with PAC Hawaii on your next residential lighting design project in Maui for a better, cheaper, and faster installation

It’s no secret that homeowners increasingly view home automation systems as must-have features instead of nice extras. If you’re a developer or interior designer and you aren’t including smart security systems, whole home audio/video and similar elements in your work, you’re missing out on a substantial source of revenue.

One automation system many homeowners request is lighting control. It’s easy to see why: the convenience, aesthetic benefits and efficiency gains offered by lighting control systems make them extremely attractive. But these systems can be difficult to set up, as they often require specialized knowledge and a unique blend of skills your standard electrician doesn’t have.

That’s why you want an experienced technology integrator like Pacific Audio & Communications by your side on your next project. Today we’ll walk you through all the benefits of hiring PAC Hawaii for your upcoming residential lighting design projects in Maui, HI, whether you’re building a new home or doing a renovation.

SEE ALSO: Interior Designers’ New Best Friend: Home Lighting Control

SAVE MONEY

Time is money in any industry, and it’s particularly true in the home-building business. Whether you’re on a new construction project or a retrofit, you want to avoid costly last-minute changes. You don’t want to be ripping out drywall in a nearly finished home because a design element wasn’t accounted for, a fixture was installed incorrectly or something is off with the wiring.

Have More Fun This Summer with a Home Outdoor Audio System

The warm, spectacular weather of the Hawaiian summer is the ideal environment for outdoor fun in your yard, from hanging by the pool to backyard barbecues. It’s even warm enough at night that you can enjoy many of those same activities without worrying about being uncomfortable.

But what if there was a way to get even more enjoyment from your favorite backyard activities? It’s easy with an outdoor audio system for your Kailua Kona, HI, home. Music makes almost everything better by helping to set the mood and keep you and your guests entertained. So why not bring your favorite tunes outside? Here are three summer activities that are improved with outdoor audio.

SEE ALSO:What Kind of Speakers Work for Your Outdoor Sound System?

POOL TIME

We have gorgeous beaches in Hawaii, but sometimes you want to avoid the crowds and the hassle, which makes your backyard pool an attractive option. The next time you, your family or your friends are hanging out poolside, create ambiance and keep everyone’s energy levels high by adding music to the mix.

If you want to relax or you’ve just finished swimming some laps, you can put on some light classical music or other mellow favorites and drift off as you enjoy the warm breeze. If you’re looking for something more upbeat or you have guests over for a party, get people moving with some rock ‘n’ roll or hip-hop classics.

From your lobby to your guests’ rooms, motorized shades can create a more comfortable and convenient environment

When it comes to the day-to-day operation of your hotel or resort, the shades you install throughout your space are likely not at the top of your priority list. However, this attitude is a mistake, because your shades play an important role in establishing an ideal atmosphere. Your shades are also important when it comes to protecting your guests’ privacy.

Still not convinced? That what today’s blog is all about. We’ll be going through the ways motorized shades can improve four different spaces in your Maui, HI hotel or resort. Read on to learn more.

SEE ALSO: How Building Automation Helps You Renovate Older Construction

COMMON AREAS

Places in your hotel with heavy foot traffic – the lobby, room corridors, the gym or pool area, etc. – are well suited to commercial automation systems such as motorized shades.

One factor that increases the utility of motorized shades in these spaces is the sheer number of windows and, therefore, shades. Adjusting the shades manually in these areas could take hours, whereas doing so with motorized shades is much more convenient and takes minutes, if not seconds. For even greater convenience, set your shades to automated schedules and watch as they adjust themselves without any effort from you or your staff.

PAC Hawai’i announces expanded resources on the Big Island of Hawai’i

Hawai’i based electronics systems integration firm Pacific Audio & Communications Inc.(PAC Hawai’i)  is proud to announce that King Integration and its employees have joined the PAC Hawai’i team. This provides additional capacity required for anticipated business growth for the Big Island and Hawai’i Nui.

In late 2018, King Integration owners Ryan and Lorela King contacted Phil Mulligan CEO and Pat Mulligan VP of PAC to form a more unified and cohesive approach in the commercial and residential electronics integration market on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Phil Mulligan Chief Executive, says, “This is a rare opportunity to have a high-quality firm like King Integration, whom has been in service for over a decade, want to unify and expand its offering. With the King Integration team coming on board with us we will be able to offer their clients and building trades expanded support and long-term services needed to elevate the Big Island market.”

To secure this unification, PAC has signed hiring contracts with Ryan King and his team (Mark, Keoni and Brandon) and has leased new office and warehouse locations in Kona at.73-5563 Olowalu St. Unit A-5, Kailua Kona Hi 96740

Ryan King adds, “We are excited to join a well established Hawai’i based company with more resources and sophisticated processes. Our client base on the Big Island will enjoy an improved service and maintenance experience while we continue to develop our new construction projects. I’ve known many peers on the Pacific Audio team over the years and am thrilled to be collaborating with them.”

Former King customers will get the same level of care and professionalism from Pacific Audio & Communications, and there will be no disruption in your service

First off, all of us at Pacific Audio & Communications want to extend a warm welcome to the King Integration customers who’ve recently joined our community. We understand how a transition like this can be a challenge, and we know you have questions about us, what we do and how this change impacts your existing home automation systems.

These questions are perfectly understandable, and we want to hear from you. But we also thought it would be helpful to give you a brief overview of our company, the services we provide and what you can expect in the days and months ahead as this changeover occurs. While we have locations all over Hawaii, we want to reassure the new members of our family in the Kailua-Kona region that we’re here for all your home automation needs.



SEE ALSO: Pacific Audio & Communications Earns Coveted HTA Luxury Certification

WHO WE ARE

Since our founding in 1991, PAC has worked tirelessly to establish ourselves as the premier electronics systems integrators not only in Hawaii, but other states such as California and Nevada. In Hawaii, we have officers in Maui, Kauai, Oahu and The Big Island. Our team has completed more than 1,000 installations and been recognized for our work in major industry publications. We’ve earned other awards as well, including a Best Overall award in the Large Home Theater category during the 2008 CEDIA Expo.

WHAT WE OFFER

Our approach is to work with homeowners as well as building professionals – architects, designers, contractors, electricians, etc. – to provide complete, easy-to-use solutions that blend well with your home’s interior aesthetic. We design and install a wide range of home automation systems, including custom home theaters and media rooms, home networking, automated security, distributed audio and video systems, lighting control and energy management.

Our service doesn’t end once your system is installed, however; through our Client Care Program, we provide ongoing technical support after your system is up and running. We monitor system performance and take care of routine maintenance to keep everything working smoothly. We can even put your home into vacation mode when you’re away on long trips to save energy and prolong the life of your equipment.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Now that we’ve acquired King Integration, we want to reassure their former clients that they can expect the same level of care, service and excellence we provide for our own clients. If you were a King Integration customer, your current systems and services shouldn’t see any change.

Should any issues arise, feel free to let us know and we’ll take care of you. We’ve even brought on the King team to work out of our Kona location, where they’ll lend their experience and expertise to help us serve our new customers. We’re committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Have more questions about PAC and how the King acquisition will impact you? Please contact us with any concerns you may have. You can call our office on the Big Island at 808-938-1321, fill out our online contact sheet or click on the chat box in the corner of your browser.

Everything You Need to Enjoy Your Favorite Video Content in Style

If you’re going to invest the time and money required for a custom home theater, you want to know you’ve created the best possible experience possible. But creating an ideal home theater environment requires more than just a big screen. The type of TV or projection matters, as does your choice of sound system, even your choice of décor.

Trying to sort through all the available options for your home theater can be overwhelming, which is why Pacific Audio & Communications is here to help. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the essential elements of a high-end home theater installation for Maui homeowners. Read on to see what you really need for your home theater.

SEE ALSO: Getting the Most from Your Home Audio-Video System

YOUR DISPLAY

While there’s some room for debate as to which manufacturers have the best TVs and projectors around, in broad strokes there’s a simple answer to what you should want for your home theater: A 4K home theater system. While 8K TVs are available for purchase, there’s almost nothing in terms of native 8K video content.

However, not all 4K TVs or projectors are created equal. You also want to look for a TV or projector that has includes High-Dynamic Range imaging, or HDR. HDR allows for a broader, more intense range of colors than regular 4K displays, giving you greater contrast to make those images really pop off the screen.

One recommendation is to pair a 4K HDR projector with an ambient light-rejecting screen or a screen that can reflect ambient light and instead display the truly stunning image your projector delivers. Similarly, look for OLED 4K TVs. In contrast to other 4K TV models, OLED TVs light pixels on screen individually instead of with bigger backlighting panels behind the screen. While that may not sound like a big deal, it’s crucial to separating brighter and darker tones on screen and gives you that true black color for a sharper image.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re going the 4K route: Every part of your video system must be 4K compatible. That means you need a 4K receiver, the right kind of cabling and a sufficiently fast network to handle 4K streaming.

YOUR SOUND SYSTEM

If you want the best in class when it comes to home theater sound, there’s only one answer: Dolby Atmos. While other home audio and surround sound systems deliver impressive sound in their own right, Dolby Atmos is the most immersive system currently available.

Surround sound systems typically work by channeling sound through different speakers spread out around the room. These are the center, left, right, and rear channels you’re likely familiar with. Dolby Atmos works differently by featuring two or four overhead speakers, as well, and rendering each sound as an individual object that can be placed in a 3-D soundscape created by a network of speakers throughout your home theater.

This allows for an incredible sense of immersion, though it only works if the content you’re watching or listening to has been mastered for Dolby Atmos. Even if it’s not strictly Dolby Atmos compatible, however, you’ll still get powerful, quality sound from your speakers while enjoying other content.

ALL THE REST

Your video and audio systems are your primary concerns when it comes to home theaters, but there are other aspects to consider as well. For instance, there’s your choice of furniture and décor.

As far as furniture goes, you actually should spend a lot of time making sure that you find the right seating for your home theater installation. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your home theater, you want comfortable seating that will remain in top condition after several months or years of usage.

When it comes to your décor, don’t be afraid to add your own sense of style. Give your theater a theme based around your favorite movie genre or genres, throw up some theater-style posters, add a popcorn machine or even stylish acoustic treatments.

Your home theater represents a significant investment on your part, so don’t be afraid to make it your own. To see what Pacific Audio & Communications can bring to your home theater installation, call our Maui office at (808) 870-1619 or contact us here to get in touch with our team today.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Learn About a Brilliant, Voice-Controlled System and Its Many Benefits

To provide the best services for your Honolulu, HI home, Pacific Audio and Communications constantly looks for cutting-edge products. As soon as we heard of a new smart home tool that uses the most intuitive, AI-learning based software, we had to look closer.

What can this revolutionary product, which won CEDIA 2017’s Best Product and Res Tech Editor’s Choice in 2018, do for you? Josh AI is a new player in the smart home automation game that we can’t wait to introduce to our Hawaii customers. Keep reading to see why we love Josh.ai!



SEE MORE: Our Company Wins Coveted HTA Luxury Distinction
 
What Does Josh Do?
Josh.ai is a full-service home automation tool that you can control with your voice. It can operate lighting, security, A/V systems and anything else you’ve added to your smart home. Just like similar devices, you can remotely access every room in your house from your mobile phone -- and even pan the room to double-check that devices have turned off after your command.

Worried about integrating something shiny and new with your existing systems? Josh.ai collaborates seamlessly with almost any brand used in smart home automation, including Control4, Crestron, Sonos, Savant, Lutron and countless others. Chances are, if we’ve installed something for you, some of this hardware lives in your house, but Josh complements all those functionalities to create one, integrated smart home. Pacific Audio and Communications can add it to both older and newer homes.

Place on Wall and Play
The device mounts to your wall and looks flawless with virtually any decor style. Pacific Audio and Communications can flush-mount your device so that only the screen shows if you prefer. The screen lights up with different colors, depending on the nature of the command.

Josh Micro’s far-flung microphone capabilities mean you can speak from far away, and the device picks up your voice and accurately interprets your request. Because its programmers enabled Josh to understand commands contextually, you’ll hardly ever need to repeat yourself to get the device to comprehend you. Its intuitive technology even grasp phrases like, “It’s too bright in here!” and respond by lowering the shades. Similarly, you can say “Turn it off!” If the last device Josh activated were the lights, he’d know to turn them back off.

How Is Josh Different?
If you have an Alexa or Siri device or are familiar with their capabilities, operating a Josh.ai Micro won’t seem vastly different at first. What you’ll notice as you explore the device, though, is that it becomes more responsive to commands the longer you use it.

According to Josh’s website, “Josh is a home’s best friend. And like a dog, Josh is intelligent, responsive, and learns his owner’s commands. While other smart home control systems only know one trick, Josh combines all aspects of smart homes into one friendly, well-trained responder. Josh is your companion, and always happy to see you come home.”

Josh.ai makes privacy a priority by storing all commands locally. Founders Tim Gill and Alex Capecelatro aimed to make Josh.ai one of the most secure and data-conscious inventions of its time: The devices don’t sell ads or use any of your personal data, like the competitors.

Exclusive, Dealer-Only Device
Josh.ai products are currently only sold to select dealers, such as Pacific Audio and Communications. We can install the device, integrate it with your other smart home automation devices and provide ongoing support. Contact Pacific Audio and Communications to see this exciting new product in your home!