Gramophone’s Favorite Things

Hurricane Irene is On Her Way!

You've probably already made it to the store to stock up on the essentials & non-perishable items, as well as made sure you have batteries & candles in case of power-loss.  

We're all great at preparing ourselves for bad weather, but it's easy when going down the checklist to forget about your home electronics.  In light of that, we'd like to give you a few tips on what to do to minimize damage to your system.

Make sure you are prepared for the worst: In case of the need to submit an Insurance claim, make sure you have pictures of your system pre-damage!

High-Winds & Flooding:

• Debris can go flying when high-winds are involved.  Especially if your home is in an extremely high-risk area, you'll want to make sure your windows are covered, and that - if possible - you've moved your electronic equipment as far away from windows as possible.

• Elevate any equipment that's on a floor to protect from water damage.

 

Lightning:

• If you don't have surge protection on your equipment (Read why this is so crucial), you'll want to make sure you've unplugged the equipment prior to thunder & lightnight storms to protect it from any lightning strikes.

• Surge Protectors are great for the unexpected, but even with a surge protector, when you have fair warning you'll still want to unplug everything including the COAX cable from your cable box or satellite box, as those can also lead to surge. 

• Be aware that surges can also occur when the power comes back on!

 

Loss of Power:

• Remember: Wireless devices do not always mean they don't have wires!

• Be prepared that extended loss of power can reset equipment back to the factory default settings. So, when power returns, items may require a service call to have audio/video and/or calibrations settings reset.  If you find this is the case, please give us a call and we'll be happy to get a field technician out to your house ASAP.

 

Boredom:

• Remember, lots of entertainment options go out the window when there's no power!  Having battery-powered items (like the Arcam rCube or Sonos Play 5) & battery-powered chargers for small items, such as your phone, iPod/iPad, and Portable DVD player can come in handy, especially when the boardgames just aren't taking care of the kids! Are your playlists up to date? 

• What did people do before the internet?  No Power = No internet. (Unless 3G is up and running and you have the ability to connect through 3G, make sure you have options for entertainment that's can be used offline)

• Here's a list of offiline activities to share with your kids!

• To our streaming music fans out there (perhaps you have MOG, Rdio, or Spotify): Be sure that playlists have been downloaded.

• Headphones are always a great resource for during a power outage (as long as your iPod's charged up!), but keeping yourself calm & occupied are always important.  Remember, if your headphones use batteries, to keep extra batteries available.

 

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All in all, it's most important to take care of yourself, family, and friends!  Please stay safe this weekend!

-The Gurus at Gramophone

 

P.S. Last Minute In-Stock Products for Hurricane Preparedness

Surge Protectors: Don't be fooled: Those $15 powerstrips aren't going to protect your equipment...

Arcam rCube Portable & Battery-Powered: 8 continuous hours of high-quality audio output! That's quite a bit of music, podcasts, etc. to listen to while the power's out!

Oh, hey! And we're having a sale!

Arcam rCube: It's Just A Cube, Right?

So you’ve got that iPod (or two or three), right? Maybe you’ve got the iPad too. Okay, I’ll confess. I have all of Apple’s products, or they’re at least on my wish list. We all know Apple designs their products to look great and perform at a level beyond comparison, but how do you put them to the test? What I’m trying to get at is, what’s out there that makes your iDevice scream, “I’m the best thing that’s happened since the Internet!”? After spending a little time with Arcam’s rCube, a box of true sonic awesome, I’m convinced I’ve found the way to win over my iPod’s heart. 

It’s just a cube, right?

Wrong. The rCube is much more than a simple 8” cube. Surrounded on all sides by a mesh-like fabric, I approached the rCube in the Gramophone showroom not really expecting to be blown away. With its minimalist design, the rCube doesn’t really catch my eye, nor would it have drawn my attention if I didn’t hear music coming from its general direction. As I got closer to the rCube, I realized that music wasn’t just floating around the showroom, it was coming from something. That something was the rCube.

I was first surprised to find out that the rCube wasn’t playing music directly from an iPod. Although the rCube has a built-in dock that charges your iPod or iPhone and allows for easy playback, I didn’t see an iPod in front of me. Instead, I found out that the rCube has a few little accessories that allow for wireless streaming from different electronic devices. The accessory that I first learned about was the rWand. About a thick as the iPod Nano and smaller than a thumb drive, the rWand connects to the docking port of your iDevice. After syncing the rWand to the rCube, you’re free to roam around your home (even go up or down a flight of stairs) and still remain in control of your iPod’s song playback or volume.

I also learned about the rWave. Similar to the idea behind the rWand, the rWave easily slips into your computer’s USB port and allows for you to stream your tunes from your music library or even play music online straight to the rCube. Now, instead of having to take your iPod with you around the house, you can simply unplug the portable rCube and have music with you where ever you go. And don’t worry about the battery dying- the eight hours of continuous playback is enough for any party/cookout/jam session with guys.

Sound Quality

As I said before, I wasn’t really expecting to get amazing sound from the rCube. After all, it’s not a full, blown-out sound system. But I was wrong to think of it as any other docking station. Instead of forcing out music, the rCube seems to effortlessly emit sound. And unlike other iPod docks, the sound coming from the rCube doesn’t sit in front of the speakers. Situated with speakers on the side panels, the rCube guarantees that no matter where you’re standing, whether your off to the side or directly in the center, you’ll experience phenomenal sound.


Integrating the Cube
It’s important to mention that the rCube is unique because it doesn’t try to make your other electronics obsolete. With an “upgrade” button located on the back of the device, it’s easy to find a way to make your rCube a part of your sound system. Better yet, the “video” output option allows you to stream photos or videos that are stored on your iPod or iPhone directly to your television for high quality viewing while taking advantage the rCube’s unbeatable sound reproduction. And there’s always the option to use the rCube as the audio output for a movie you’re watching on your iPad. Simply use the rWand to wirelessly sync both of your devices.

I’m overall really impressed by this little box! (So remember, it’s not just a cube.) Visit a Gramophone showroom in Timonium or Columbia to see the rCube for yourself!

-Ela

Let Your Music Play Outside

Having lived in Maryland for my entire life, I understand that it is possible to experience the 4 seasons over the period of 4 days: Snow on Friday and 80 degrees & sunny on Monday.  If you're not from the area, you may be surprised by this fact, but trust me: it's possible.

The good news is that it looks like we may be heading into a very spring-like weekend, with temperatures reaching 70 degrees.  Which means it's going to be the perfect time to head outside...with your music.  But don't limit the experience to your headphones: share it with your friends & family on a pair of outdoor speakers.  

When you add the Sonos ZonePlayer 90 to your system, along with a pair of Sonance outdoor speakers, you'll have easy access to your entire music collection and be able to play all your music outside.  We can even set it up so that you can choose which music to play from your iPod or smartphone.  Just imagine: you're lounging outside.  The music's on.  Your friends are over.  And all of a sudden, someone makes a song request.  In 5 seconds, you've quickly found the song, and set it to play without having to move!  How simple is that?

Just How Home-Integrated are Your Mobile Devices?

 

Brought to you by Terrance Gaines:  Terrance Gaines is a technology evangelist who empowers the lives of people via his expertise with gadgets and consumer electronics. He’s a “Jack of All Tech” with his own technology consultant business (Tech Life Coach). He also posts daily technology commentary, tools, tips, news and reviews on his website, BrothaTech.com, in addition to writing for several tech-related online publications. He has also appeared on several tech radio shows and has presented at local technology events.

Since the mobile app craze took off a couple of years ago, all types of companies from a variety of industries are flocking to develop apps to supplement, augment, and market their goods and services to mobile device users. For me, the Home Automation (smart home) industry is a perfect fit for techies and non-techies to integrate their favorite smartphone/tablet into how they interact with their homes. Rather than introduce yet another "remote" for the home user to figure out, Home Automation companies simply create a single app that can do the same thing.

Whether it be consolidating/replacing a myriad of remotes, playing/streaming media (music, movies, and pics) across multiple devices, or complete home environment management (entertainment, lights, HVAC, security and energy), the ability of a mobile device to work one way when away from the home, then "code-switch" and work another way when inside the home just makes sense...to me anyway.

So now we see companies like DirectTV, Dish Network, Comcast, Time Warner, Sonos*, Crestron*, Lutron*, Control4*, HAI, and others are all racing to develop apps to run just about ALL of your household gear/and systems.

But I'm curious - How many consumers actually have their homes set up the right way to capitalize from the awesome Home Automation innovation that is being discovered via smartphone apps? I mean, sure, most people can probably user their smartphone to schedule their DVR to record "Two and a Half Men" re-runs. Others have even figured out how to get music from their office to their stereo. But does the average consumer know what goes into getting their home to send them an email to their smartphone when "Jenny" (I don't know your kid's names) comes home? Can the average user check their smartphone to make sure they turned off the fish tank lights, but kept the Foyer lights on?

It's not as easy as a simple app download is what I think I am getting at. In other words, for the Home Automation industry to REALLY resonate in the minds of the average consumer, there still is a great deal of education by industry leaders that needs to be done in order for "Joe Plumber" (I don't know your name either) to really start to grasp at all that their mobile device can do...at home and away.

-Terrance

Note from Gramophone:  We are experts at explaining how a variety of these Home Automation tools work, and can demonstrate in our showroom.  We’ve hand-selected those that we know are most reliable, and easiest to use.

*Sold at Gramophone.

 

Dancing at My Desk

 

My office doesn’t have a door - kind of like a cubicle (with four walls and a ceiling).  I’m not looking for pity, seriously.  But, it makes jamming to music - one of the few methods of motivation - more difficult to do without forcing my co-workers to also rock out to my favorite music.  Luckily, though, there’s a solution.  (If there wasn’t a solution, this would be a pretty pathetic blog post.)  Headphones.  Ever since Apple released its first iPod, headphones have been the solution to independant music consumption.  Unfortunately, those little earbuds can get pretty uncomfortable after 8 hours at a desk.  My ears feel like they need some fresh air.  Maybe you like the feeling, and I’m not going to hate on you for it, but my ears were just not constructed to hold a piece of plastic for the duration of the workday.  

Enter the around-the-ear headphones.  I’ll probably get some flak for this, from my serious audiophiles out there, but I spend my day with the Dr. Dre Beats (Studio).  Sure, there are plenty of other options, but it’s a personal choice, and I love my Beats.  The music doesn’t feel like it’s being pushed into my ears, rather it just lives in its own space - that I happen to be a part of.

We had a headphone challenge in the Marketing Department, and while we all agreed that anything is better than the Apple earbuds, each of us found our own personal favorites: from the on-ear B&W P5s and Grado headphones to the around-the-ear noise-cancelling Sennheisers.  And while we were challenging the headphones, we weren’t rudely spreading our music throughout the office without care for the preferences of others.  And while there was discussion of the amount of bass and the highs and lows, what it really came down to was: Do I think my music sounds great, and am I comfortable wearing these?  And that’s what it should be about.  Honestly, I don’t care if you prefer your music to be bass-heavy, club beats, classical, or opera, just don’t force me to listen to it through your itsy-bitsy computer speakers.  The only thing that should show me you’re listening to your favorite music is you dancing in your chair at your desk.

 

-Kate

Got A Second?

We certainly hope so. Our Timonium showroom now features performance packages that are value-engineered to bridge budget and quality. It's our commitment to provide the best products and systems which will exceed your expectations, yet are satisfying to your wallet. Several of our most commonly purchased flat panels are now accompanied by digital signs that show you our price compared to our competitors, and will be regularly updated. Why? We want you to know that you can and should shop at Gramophone for better service, support, and experience all at a reasonable price.

Gramophone is excited to offer a full HD experience complete with 46” 1080p Samsung TV and 5.1 PSB Surround Sound system. A Gramophone system would not be complete without a matching BDI home theater stand, WiFi Blu-Ray Player, Audioquest performance HDMI cables and wiring, along with a Furman Surge Protector.

Use your existing furniture or mount the TV to the wall and the whole system is $2999.  For $3999, use our complete system, including the BDI stand, and this saves you $635 off regular prices. To kick off this promotion, for short period of time, we are including 24 Months No Interest Financing.

What could be better? Professional installation starts at $449 for those who are not up to installing on their own.

Surprised? See It, Live It, Hear It at Gramophone Today!

-Andrew Davis

410-308-1650

Portable Music

Before you know it, summer will be here, and we'll be heading outside to play, eat, swim, and soak up the sun. Great news: your portable music now has a great portable speaker it can connect to. Soundcast presents the Outcast, a truly wireless & weatherproof speaker that connects right up with your iPod. I know that for the audiophiles out there these features send up red flags about sound quality, but I'm here to tell you, the quality is quite good. And with a battery that runs the speaker for up to 10 hours per charge, you can take it with you to the park and play your music all day without a problem. Want to listen to satellite radio or your favorite local station? It can do that too.* Since it's weatherproof, don't worry about doing a cannonball into the pool, the Outcast can take it.

Take out your earbuds, and share your music this summer. The Outcast turns your afternoon in the sun into an event you'll want to repeat.

-Bruce Spivey

*Tech-Speak: Want to know how the RF dock (iCast) works? The iCast has a rear panel analog audio connection. When you don't have an iPod docked in it, the rear panel connection is an INPUT. It can accept analog audio from any source. Here's the catch: if you plan to use the iCast as an iPod dock - for both the soundcast speaker AND your a/v receiver - then that rear panel connection becomes an OUTPUT. Think of the iPod as a mechanical switch. Insert it, and the connection becomes an output, remove it, and the connection becomes an input.

Going Outside: my new project

This is the year, the year we make the great outdoors even greater.  We love music, and we're excited by the idea of outdoor television and movies.  Our challenge now is making the space fit you and your family.

   


We provide all sorts of solutions and ideas for you to peruse, from our online gallery to our state-of-the-art showrooms.  Let us help you design your great outdoors.

Are these some questions you have?

• Do I want to include a Sunbrite weatherproof TV?
  
• What type of speakers do I want?  Do I want them to fit right in with the surroundings?  Madison Fielding Planters could be one option, but then there are the Speakercraft Rock Speakers. 
  
• Of course, there's always the question of sound quality: James Landscape Series or B&W weatherproof speakers?
• What about if I want to have a party and want to play my music outside the patio?  Should I look into the quality, portable, wireless speakers by Soundcast to use during those times?
• Do I want to go back inside to control the outdoor system?  There are several systems that I could use outside (that are also weatherproof) so I wouldn't end up running in and out of the house: Crestron and Control4 are two of them.
  
• What about when a party goes into the later hours and it gets dark outside?  Should I go with lighting control?  Color Kinetics looks like a great idea, but I'm still not sure.

Let's work together to make this year, the year of the great outdoors!  Give us a call or stop by to speak with sales representatives, designers, engineers & programmers to see what they think is best for you!

Timonium 410-308-1650

Columbia  410-381-2100

Crestron’s New Wireless Touchpanel is Sleeker, Faster

Crestron’s new TPS-6x Isys wireless touchpanel remote control is making waves in the industry  thanks to its incredibly light (1.59 lb.) ergonomic design and lightening fast speed. Dynamic graphics and text capability enable the Isys to display of all kinds of useful data and alluring eye candy—from audio settings, TV channels, and lighting levels—to changing icons, photos, and logos—to digital media playlists complete with album cover art. This little showpiece might rival your television for the most entertaining gadget in the house.

Monster Cable Unveils Wireless High Definition Kit

We hear it again and again from our customers: why does my new HDTV need so many wires?  There’s good news on the horizon for those looking to end the hassle of HDTV wiring. Monster Cable just announced plans to release the Monster Wireless Digital Express HD, a single digital box that manages all the connections between your HDTV and the digital signal box or DVD player. It promises full 1080p video for up to 30 feet away. The kit will reportedly cost around $300 when it’s released later this year.