A variety of new products is in the Colorado vNet roadmap over the coming weeks and months.
Here’s what the brand has revealed so far:
Wireless lighting system:
An upgraded system shipping in November will use wireless ZigBee Pro
technology, replacing the current syste,s ZigBee technology. The new
system will upgrade support to 1,000 watts while offering the same
design aesthetics as before. Additional details weren’t revealed.
Touchscreen/amplifier: September
shipments are planned of the 7-inch TSI-7/70 with built-in 2x35-watt
amp. It will replace another 7-inch model and add a higher performance
amp, more choices of interchangeable bezels, and a more powerful
microprocessor to support future upgrades. Other features include
five-band EQ and fixed and variable line outputs.
Outboard local amp:
Citing dealer requests for a more powerful amp option in larger rooms,
the brand plans fourth-quarter shipments of its first outboard local
amp, a Class D model rated at 2x50 watts into eight ohms and bridgeable
to 150 watts. The half-rack-wide, one-rack-high amp will be controlled
from Vibe in-wall touchscreen/amps and feature 12-volt input and output
triggers and video-signal sensing.
Custom speakers: The
first vNet-branded speakers, shipping in the fourth quarter, will be
designed to match the amplifiers in vNet’s touchscreens to maximize
output and performance, said sales and marketing VP Petro Shimonishi.
vNet won’t offer Russound-branded speakers because its dealers want
exclusive limited-distribution products, she explained.
The
five-SKU selection of two-way speakers will consist of one in-wall
speaker and four in-ceiling speakers, including one
single-speaker-stereo model. All will feature seven-inch woofer and
1-inch tweeter except for the single-speaker-stereo model, which will
feature an eight-inch woofer and two one-inch tweeters. They’ll feature
baffles that tilt up to 15 degrees and flat, flat magnetically attached
speaker grilles, and optional back boxes built from flexible material
for easier installation. Pricing wasn’t available.
iPad/iPhone app:
A video viewable on YouTube and downloadable at no cost from the iTunes
store to iPads, iPhones, Macs and PCs will be available in early August
for dealers to demonstrate a planned Vibe-controlling iPad app. In
December, the company plans to offer an iPad app that will control a
Vibe system’s audio functions. Control of Vibe-connected lighting,
HVAC, and security systems will be added to the app at a later date.
The app versions that control audio and other home systems will not be free to end users, vNet stressed.
In-wall
touchscreens will co-exist with apps for iPads and other handheld
touchscreen devices, with some zones controlled by in-wall touchscreens
and other zones controlled by iPad apps, Shimonishi said.