There’s no better way to expand an integration business than by exploring new markets. Aligning with manufacturers who cater to both residential and commercial segments is a good first step. With a breadth of products that span both sides of the AV business, Sony is easing the transition for integrators—especially with solutions like new and improved line ES Series AV receivers and premium BH- and CH-Series Crystal LED displays. With these product introductions, Sony positions itself as a one-stop-shop for systems integrators eager to capitalize on two high-growth categories: home entertainment and commercial video walls.
Major Advancements to a Venerable AVR Line
Sony’s ES line of AVR receivers has been a staple in the AV market for many years, remaining largely unchanged for the past 8 years. It was time well spent for Sony, though. Engineers went into deep R&D to raise the technological bar to incredible heights in a next-gen series of 8K ES AVRs. “The new ES AVR series is a complete relaunch of the line. Everything from the power transformers to the chassis has gone through a major overhaul,” says Jeff Goldstein, head of sales, custom installation channel at Sony. “We focused on three key enhancements during this R&D phase—better performance, deeper integration, and purpose-built for the CI channel—to provide systems integrators with a smarter, more versatile AVR that meets and exceeds the increasingly sophisticated demands and expectations of today’s tech-savvy consumers.”
Differentiating Features Overcome Acoustical Obstacles & Streamline Integration
There are a host of compelling features that set Sony’s enhanced ES AVRs apart from the competition. The integration of Sony’s exclusive 360 Spatial Sound Mapping (360 SSM) for example, creates a more immersive, authentic soundstage—despite speaker placement—by adapting automatically to the room environment. Integrators can fuss less with speaker installation and let the technology inside the ES AVR envelope the audience in multi-dimensional sound.
The four models that comprise the ES AVR line are much more than highly intelligent standalone AV components (the ES stands for Elevated Standard), however. Designed from the ground up as the heart of a smart home ecosystem, the ES AVRs interoperate seamlessly with leading control platforms from Control4, Crestron, Savant, and support remote configuration and management via OvrC. Advanced configurability, flexible connectivity, and advanced IP control and compatibility afford integrators a wide range of customization options to leverage their installation skills, streamline deployment, and deliver their customers entertainment experiences like no other.
Capitalizing on Commercial Videowalls with Sony’s dvLED Displays
Integrators growing a commercial business should look no further than dvLED as an entry point. From hospitality and retail establishments to higher-ed campuses, entertainment venues, corporate spaces, and retail storefronts, the opportunities for dvLED are as endless as the number of manufacturers now offering this up-and-coming large-format video option. With the availability of its premium Crystal LED displays, Sony has taken the best attributes of dvLED and made them even better. Improved brightness, contrast, pixel pitch, color accuracy, and longevity have all been accounted for in Sony’s new BH- and CH-Crystal LED series.
The CH-series optimizes contrast, setting the bar high at 1,000,000;1. The addition of a deep black coating enables this version of Crystal LED to achieve outstanding black levels. “The CH-series is in high demand for residential projects requiring the best in dvLED picture quality,” says Goldstein. The BH-series, meanwhile, excels at brightness. Rated at 1,800 nits and complemented by an anti-reflective coating, it’s the go-to Crystal LED for environments bathed in an abundance of ambient light.
Both models employ Sony’s power-packed X1 picture processor to reproduce a wide color gamut with accuracy. This leading technology enables smooth, natural color transitions and faithful reproduction of a broad array of content – no matter where the display is installed.
Just as a blank canvas offers endless experimentation with no rigid rules to follow, Sony’s Crystal LED minimizes many of the complexities normally associated with designing, configuring, and installing a video wall. The individual MicroLED panels comprising a Sony Crystal LED video wall are thin and light, broadening options for installation in spaces with limited depth or weight restrictions. Additionally, with fewer parts to assemble, on-site installation time is dramatically reduced, which reduces integration costs. Finally, all system components and cabling are accessible from the front for simpler installation and maintenance, especially in situations where rear access is unavailable.
Driving Adoption of Advanced AV Technologies
Robust R&D, thoughtful engineering and design, and comprehensive service and support are key to driving growth in technology markets, and Sony has its foot firmly on the accelerator with its cutting-edge Crystal LED displays and integration-friendly ES Series AVRs. Both excel in AV performance, are in tune with the current and future needs of integrators and their customers, and streamline installation and maintenance for greater profitability.
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