Savant Introduces PoE IP-Enabled Architectural Speakers and Streaming Soundbars at CEDIA 2018

September 11 2018, 00:50
With smart home becoming a dominant topic at CEDIA Expo 2018, and many of the leading smart home control companies attending the show, it was refreshing to see Savant arriving in San Diego with a raft of innovations and actual integrated audio products. The new solutions combine Artison quality sound with Savant IP audio technology, providing A/V integrators what they need to deliver performing whole-house entertainment systems, in this case based on AVB networks and PoE.
 

The smart home technology company has announced networked-enabled architectural loudspeakers and soundbar solutions that make the system design and installation of high-performance whole-house entertainment easier than ever before. The Savant IP Soundbar and the Savant Micro Aperture loudspeakers encompass an entirely new way of delivering entertainment content throughout the home. These new speakers represent the first initiative to jointly leverage engineering from both Savant and Artison since Savant acquired the loudspeaker company last year.

PoE Micro Aperture Speakers
Savant’s Power over Ethernet (PoE) self-powered Micro Aperture architectural speakers are a whole-house entertainment solution that drastically reduces the complexity associated with system design and installation. Each powered speaker contains a highly efficient amplifier, which not only reduces installation time, it also delivers assured sound quality throughout the home because content remains in the digital domain from source to speaker. There are three in-ceiling versions available, each using an advanced technology called Balanced Mode Radiator that delivers more sound per watt. There is a self-powered PoE speaker, a companion PoE satellite speaker, as well as a passive (4-ohm) speaker for interface with traditional audio systems.
 

Each self-powered PoE speaker can run up to three PoE satellite speakers giving integrators an astonishing 8-speaker capacity based on a single pair of powered PoE speakers. Because each unit is individually controlled and connected to the network, the user can easily switch room configurations. For example, the dining room speakers can play music during dinner, then become the rear channels for a theater system at the touch of a button. 

Most importantly, Savant Micro Aperture speakers are decor friendly – the speakers sit flush in the ceiling, are available with compact, paintable round or square 4-inch grilles and complement the look of the Savant/USAI Lighting recessed fixture family for the cleanest look once installed.

IP Audio Soundbar
The Savant IP Soundbar is a high-performance powered sound bar designed to deliver features never before available to integrators in the CI channel. Engineered to dramatically improve the listening experience from a flat panel TV, the IP Soundbar is an AVB networked device fully compatible with Savant Audio, delivering access to all popular streaming services, and requiring no outboard rack-mountable hardware for audio distribution. Each Savant IP Soundbar features 6-channels and 200 watts of amplification controlled by sophisticated DSP all built into an extruded aluminum chassis. 
 

High-performance woofers and tweeters plus Artison’s renowned Stage Tweeter deliver wide dispersion and superior clarity, with bass down to 75Hz. Custom grilles allow it to perfectly match TV dimensions and finish while delivering the exceptional sound quality of a premium loudspeaker system. The replaceable grilles also make it easy to upgrade the TV without having to replace the soundbar. The Savant IP Soundbar comes complete with the TV mounting kit, ensuring that the listener gets perfect sound even when angling the TV.

“We are excited to bring meaningful innovations to the whole-house entertainment market that provide integrators with new opportunities and give clients the most intelligent high-performance A/V systems available,” said Cary Christie, Chief Technology Officer, Audio at Savant.

Savant’s Micro Aperture and soundbar solutions will be available Q4, 2018.

Home integration
Savant also announced embedded control and host processing technology into core devices, making system design and installation easier than ever before as well as allowing integrators to add the foundation for whole-home control into a wide variety of new project types. The Savant Host Inside initiative kicks off in Q4 2018 with Savant including their host technology inside of the new Savant IP Audio Soundbar and Savant Multistat.

To provide integrators with the most efficient entertainment and control solution possible, the new IP Audio Soundbar will be available not only with built-in control ports but also with all of the smart capabilities of Savant’s S2 Host, including a single stream of Savant Music. Integrators will have an all-in-one solution for audio and control included, making it perfect for single room solutions or for systems with up to six zones of audio and control. With this new smart soundbar, dealers no longer have to wire and locate a separate host and controller in order to provide the award-winning features of Savant to their clients, such as the elegant user experience and voice control capabilities consumers have come to expect from the Savant Pro Remote.

Savant will also be offering their control and automation platform running inside the Multistat, a touch screen multipurpose thermostat that is part of the Savant Climate solution.

“Breaking through technology barriers and traditional system architecture is at the core of what Savant is delivering to enhance our custom integrators’ position in the market. Recent innovation across IP Audio, IP Video, lighting, climate and energy is setting the bar for the industry," stated CEO Robert Madonna.
 

Energy Check
Savant Systems is one of the fastest-growing smart home companies in the luxury and mid-markets, combining the four pillars of automation – climate, lighting, entertainment and energy – together in a single application interface for the homeowner. The comprehensive whole-home control system, available through iOS and Android, delivers a premiere experience in all of home automation and is available through Magnolia Design Centers and Savant’s global network of Authorized Integrators. 

At CEDIA, Saant has announced a partnership with sister company Racepoint Energy (www.racepointenergy.com), enabling technology integrators to provide their clients with a custom designed, turnkey energy microgrid to fit any budget or job size. Microgrid technology is designed to provide home or business owners with energy independence during grid outages. The Racepoint Energy team provides design, engineering and commissioning of solar, generator and battery systems. Racepoint Energy, combined with Savant’s control platform, takes microgrid technology a step further by being able to dynamically manage all electrical loads, completely rethinking how energy is delivered, measured, managed and consumed.

Integration with Savant gives users the ultimate in smart energy control, including complete dynamic environmental control of climate, lighting and other electrical loads. Unlike a conventional power backup system where critical loads must be chosen in advance and receive special wiring, a Savant and Racepoint Energy system is designed to connect to all circuits. Allowing the user or conditional logic determine which modes or devices are needed based on current consumption, pricing and/or onsite energy capacity. Choices can be made and adjusted using the Savant Pro App and Savant Central Management. 

Users can monitor, manage and control any connected device or related circuit for unprecedented levels of energy management. Plus Savant can deliver the utility-grade energy reporting and management necessary to qualify for many environmental certifications and renewable energy incentives.
www.savant.com
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