Brighton Property, Just Add Popcorn - Case Study

A newly remodeled home on the outskirts of Brighton, has been completely outfitted with a URC Total Control system. Specified by CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) member, Just Add Popcorn and supplied by award-winning distributor, AWE, the URC home automation solution answers the homeowner’s every requirement, with reliable, fuss-free operation.

When remodeling a newly purchased home, it’s easy to get caught up with architectural renovations and planning the interior design. However, what most homeowners often fail to realise, is that it also presents an ideal opportunity to install an infrastructure that can support all their future AV and control needs.

This however, was not the case for one astute client in Hove, Sussex, who came to Just Add Popcorn with a brief for a system that could incorporate all their music, entertainment and networking needs into one simple package. It was also of high importance to not have anything on view, apart from the screens and speakers.

The solution was a URC Total Control system, which encompasses everything from network system controllers, network switches, multi-zone audio amplifiers, streaming network players, security cameras and keypads. Working together, these products can be used to create a simple or complex home automation system which comprises audio, video, lighting, security and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).

With a system that needed to be hidden away, the garage provided the perfect space to store source inputs such as an Apple TV and Sky HD boxes, alongside the URC equipment. This included network switches, base station, amplifier and a network audio player, alongside the heart of the URC Total Control system, the MRX-10 System Controller.

Once installed, the Total Control system completely replaced the need for any OEM controllers, instead relying on three URC TRC-1280 remote controls. With an integrated 2.8” colour touchscreen, the homeowner has clear and complete control of their TV’s, Sky boxes, multi-room audio and more, all from one controller. In addition, the URC system was set up to work with any iOS device running the dedicated Total Control Mobile App (which is now also iOS7 compatible). To use the app, the system’s MRX-10 base station requires a license which will support unlimited iDevices.

“The URC Total Control system proved to be exactly the right choice for the client, as it combines feature-rich control of every AV element of the property,” explains Stuart Burgess, Director at Just Add Popcorn. “Eight TV screens around the house, a host of Wi-Fi hotspots, extensive multi-room audio and a wide selection of inputs make for an incredible amount of programming. This is one of the reasons why we specified URC, as ease of installation and programming has always been a huge benefit of the Total Control system.

“The simplicity of programming URC Total Control is a benefit that shouldn’t be underplayed. It’s able to handle advanced macros with ease, with us even being able to check the system’s status and edit remotely, off-site, should anything unforeseen happen.”

AWE also supplied a selection of KEF Ci200QR, Ci160QR and Ci100QR in-ceiling speakers. Exclusive to the CI industry, the speakers were installed in seven zones around the property and powered by three URC amplifiers.

Due to the multi-zone nature of the project, getting the right speaker and control mix was essential for the system to work effectively. Despite their size, the KEF units provide an impressive soundstage to every room – by utilising the ceiling cavity as a back box for increased bass response. Coupled to the URC Total Control system, the client is able to stream their personal collection of music in pristine quality, from an iMac, directly to any room in the house. The music system is controlled by a URC controller or iOS device, allowing the client to choose songs and create playlists, right from the comfort of their sofa.

As well as the in-ceiling units, a KEF HTB2SE subwoofer was also used to create an impressive, yet practically invisible 5.1 surround sound solution in the property’s lounge, delivering a powerful and dramatic sound for films and music.

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