Relocating to a new home is a difficult process, particularly with the amount of technology that exists in most properties today. Often, the previous residents had figured out a very particular way to operate everything from the sprinklers to the thermostat. But imagine if the little idiosyncrasies that make these everyday devices difficult to figure out were amplified to a point where really nothing in your house worked properly. Because everything was networked together improperly before you moved in, nothing happens when you hit a light switch.
That was the scenario for one Chicago-area resident who eventually called The Little Guys to his rescue. This homeowner had worked with The Little Guys before, but when he moved into a new residence, he was picking up where another technology company had left off. The control systems for the whole-house audio and various video displays weren’t working properly. He called the original installers for help, but three and a half months and thousands of dollars later, he was still unhappy with the way his house was functioning.
In steps The Little Guys. “He asked us to review the system, we looked at it and saw what they were trying to do was never going to happen with that gear,” recalls David Wexler, co-owner of The Little Guys. “Even the wiring was a disaster. So we sat down with the homeowner and went over what he wanted to accomplish. We drew some diagrams and together we figured out how we were going to get it back under control.”
“The job would be a big one, so our custom team created a multi-phase plan,” Wexler said. Phase one saw a new AMX control system, with keypads and touch panels in several rooms. “We showed him that it could work, and it could fit, and the wiring didn’t have to be a mess,” Wexler explains. “We did such a good job with that phase, that the client initiated phase two with sophisticated security cameras around the property. He also updated three or four of the audio/video systems within the house.”
The master bedroom, kitchen, and guest bedrooms were updated. New outdoor speakers replaced the existing units. A music server was installed, with access points in every room. Video is also distributed throughout the house based on several satellite receivers. Everything was cleaned up and new equipment racks were put in. Custom cabinetry, another Little Guys offering, was built for all of the electronics.
Next up was the security system. The homeowner wished to see video from any of the property’s cameras in any room. To further this sense of security, The Little Guys also provided camera zooming and panning capabilities via the AMX touch panels in certain rooms.
One of the highlights of the revamped system was the home theater, which was built off of the family’s movie memorabilia-themed recreation room. A McIntosh surround sound system makes this Home Theater really special. What’s more, the techno-savvy client requested that his beautiful McIntosh electronics be displayed proudly in a custom wall rack. The system is controlled with an AMX panel, like the rest of the house.
Adjacent to the home theater is a bar area with another video display and complete surround sound system set up for movies, music and video game playing.
“The client is totally thrilled with how it turned out,” Wexler rejoices. “His biggest requirement was to actually have his expectations fulfilled. He was hoping we could deliver on what somebody else promised, and I think it’s safe to say we over-delivered on that promise.”
Related: AMX, Home Theater, security, The Little Guys, Whole House Audio
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