Podcast - Home Cinema Alliance

Interview with Stephen for Sonos

Stuart Burgess — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

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Sonos didn’t just chase a trend; it bet early that people would want music everywhere without wires, remotes, or friction. In this conversation with Stephen Reed, Sonos’ UK Sonos for Professionals lead, we trace how those “little white boxes” grew into a platform that turned private listening into shared sound. Reed outlines the arc from Bang & Olufsen's retail discipline to Sonos’ installer-first reliability mindset, making the case that technology must be invisible, stable, and easy to use. He also reminds us that the best audio story isn’t about specs; it’s about the moment families rediscover music together, streaming any artist on demand and syncing rooms effortlessly.

What makes Sonos sticky for both homeowners and installers is the simple idea that it works across control paths. Reed walks through app control, direct casting from services, voice options, and third-party panels like Control4, RTI, URC, and NICE. That flexibility lets clients live their habits while installers reduce support calls. Voice was a shock to the industry, but Sonos adapted fast, offering both major assistants and a privacy-first Sonos Voice Control that runs locally on the device. For security-conscious households, the kill-the-mic power design matters. The result is a system that can be set up once and then blend into daily life, whether the command is tapped on a glass surface, spoken aloud, or triggered by a wall keypad.

Reliability is the repeated refrain. Reed is candid that networks—not speakers—cause most failures. He urges proper Wi‑Fi planning, careful attention to ISP router swaps, and the use of professional-grade infrastructure. For legacy owners, he clarifies the current software line: older devices play well together on their track, while new gear enjoys the modern app and feature set. Trade-in programs help bridge the gap, but Sonos avoids forcing change for its own sake; if a ZP120 happily drives a client’s zones, leave it. Meanwhile, newer products like Arc Ultra continue to push the envelope with Dolby Atmos and speech clarity features co-developed with hearing specialists, turning accessibility into a meaningful, free software upgrade.

Home theater enters the picture with nuance. No soundbar replaces a six-figure dedicated cinema, yet a well-placed Arc Ultra with optional subs and rears can deliver striking Dolby Atmos in normal rooms. Reed frames budgets realistically: many households want under-£10,000 experiences, not basement builds. Sonos shines as a modular path—start with a beam for a 42-inch TV, scale to Arc Ultra, add subs, add rears, or power vintage loudspeakers with AMP for a hybrid surround approach. The point is choice and growth: let homes evolve, keep rooms tidy, maintain lip sync via HDMI, and focus on experiences over cabling diagrams.

Installers often raise margin concerns, and Reed meets them head-on. Sonos is multi-channel, but the pro channel has exclusive SKUs like AMP, Port, and Era 100 Pro, with improved margin structures through select distributors. The real win is blended margin: pair AMP with in-ceiling speakers, add architectural lines, and integrate with lighting or control systems to create profitable, low-call-back projects. Sonos’ constant software updates—now on a rebuilt app—improve search on control panels and enable remote visibility via browser login, so integrators can diagnose obvious problems without rolling trucks. Reed’s advice is simple: build relationships with distributors, use Sonos as a backbone, and upsell sensibly as families add rooms and their needs change.

Finally, Reed previews where Sonos is headed: pro-focused products, installer-only “toys,” and public showings at ISE in Barcelona. He doesn’t spill details, but the direction is clear: more CI-aligned hardware, deeper integrations, and features that keep the platform relevant for another decade. The heart of the message is practical and human. Keep systems updated. Design networks correctly. Teach clients that the soundbar is also a fantastic music speaker. And if you’re a pro, say hello—partnerships, not parts lists, build the best projects. In the end, Sonos’ legacy is less about the box and more about the room it brings to life.

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From DTS Roots To Procella 2.0: Building Cinemas That Perform

Stuart Burgess — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:06:29 +0000

Want a home cinema that feels visceral, vivid, and effortless at the same time? We spent two days inside Procella’s Netherlands facility to unpack how pro-grade components, smart room design, and THX fundamentals create reference sound that doesn’t wear you out. From their DTS origins to a bold Procella 2.0 roadmap, we dive into the build decisions that matter: baffle walls done right, consistent voicing across speaker sizes, and bass systems that pair modern DSP with serious cone area for real control.

Gerard and Ben walk us through the journey from a show-floor demo to a permanent lab where integrators and clients can audition small media rooms and large theaters side by side. We explore why Procella refuses the “good, better, best” hierarchy and instead scales performance to room size, keeping the same sonic character from compact surrounds to flagship LCRs. If you’ve wondered how to handle modular LED walls without acoustically transparent screens, their above‑screen LCR approach offers a brain-friendly way to anchor dialogue and effects to the image with full-range authority.

We also get practical about acoustics. Many private theaters are either overdamped and dull or untreated and chaotic. The team demonstrates diffusion that preserves life and space, letting microdetail pop at high levels without fatigue. Then there’s bass: with waveforming and advanced bass management gaining traction, Procella is expanding subwoofer options—including single 21 and 24-inch models—to move the air large rooms demand while integrating cleanly into modern arrays. Along the way, we touch on partner gear from Trinnov and Storm Audio to Anthem, Arcam, Denon, and Marantz, showing that great results are possible across budgets when the room and system are planned together.

Curious to hear it for yourself? The demo centre is open by arrangement for dealers and end users, with more training days on the way and big show plans for CEDIA and ISE. If you love cinema that hits hard, stays clear, and invites long sessions, this conversation lays out the blueprint. Subscribe, share with a home theater friend, and tell us: what’s the first scene you’d use to test a system like this?

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How a 1935 radio repair shop became a modern AV powerhouse—and why service still wins

Stuart Burgess — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:03:09 +0000

A 1935 radio repair shop doesn’t become a modern AV powerhouse by accident. Stuart Tickle, fourth-generation MD of AWE Europe, sits down with us to unpack a 90-year journey of pivots, grit, and careful bets—from wireless sets and coil winding, to background music in pubs, to reference-grade cinemas and a showroom built to persuade even the toughest architect. The story isn’t about chasing every trend; it’s about choosing your lane, curating top-tier brands, and proving value where it matters: in the room.

We dig into the inflexion points: selling the factory freehold to fund a strategic pivot to residential distribution, surviving the twin shocks of Pronto and plasma disappearing overnight, and taking a calculated leap into a much larger Epsom headquarters. Stuart explains why showrooms became AWE’s superpower, how fixtures and finishes now match the expectations of interior designers and MEP consultants, and why training and support—right down to remote help on decade-old control systems—win loyalty in a saturated UK market. You’ll hear how Sony projection and Bowers & Wilkins reshaped the demo story, how the trade counter still saves jobs on deadline day, and why specialisation beats “sell everything” sprawl.

Threaded through the business is a love of content: Top Gun-era demo nostalgia, LaserDisc memories, and the way F1 IMAX thunder or a perfect Atmos moment anchors emotion. That’s the point of all this tech—creating experiences people feel. If you care about home cinema, residential integration, distributor partnerships, and what it takes to grow through uncertainty, this conversation is a masterclass in building for the long game.

Subscribe for more deep dives with industry leaders, share this with a colleague who loves showrooms as much as specs, and leave a review to tell us what you want to hear next.

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What Happens When Cinema Specialists Join Forces?

Stuart Burgess — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:53:12 +0000

What happens when passionate home cinema specialists decide to join forces? The Home Cinema Alliance represents a revolutionary approach to an age-old problem: how small, specialised businesses can effectively market themselves while maintaining laser focus on their craft.

Founded around 2018 by industry veterans with decades of combined experience, the HCA has evolved into a powerful collective that pools marketing resources, shares technical expertise, and connects homeowners with genuine cinema specialists. As the hosts explain, this model solves the content creation dilemma faced by boutique installers who typically complete just 3-5 cinema rooms annually – not enough to feed the content-hungry social media algorithms individually, but collectively robust enough to reach 150,000 potential clients quarterly.

The magic of specialisation becomes clear as they discuss how focusing exclusively on cinema rooms leads to superior results. "I believe my rooms are better because I don't have to think about multi-room audio, door entry, gate entry, or Wi-Fi," one host explains. "I can laser focus on the matter at hand." This specialisation creates what they call the essential "two wows" – the initial impression when walking into a room and the transformative experience when actually watching content.

Perhaps most compelling is their observation that most people have never experienced a properly designed home cinema room. "There's no doubt, if you've sat in a great home cinema, you absolutely want one," they agree, noting that many consumers incorrectly assume projectors in pubs represent the standard. The upcoming International Home Cinema Day (October 26, 2025) aims to change this by inviting the public to experience properly designed spaces without sales pressure.

Looking for your own cinematic transformation? Visit homecinemaalliance.co.uk to find specialised designers and installers who can bring the magic of cinema into your home. The results will leave you wondering how you ever lived without it.

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From RAF to Electrician to Integrator to Distributor - The rise of Moss Tech

Stuart Burgess — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:30:59 +0000

What happens when military-grade precision meets home automation? Andy from Moss Tech reveals his remarkable journey from Royal Air Force electronic engineer working on Tornado and Jaguar aircraft to pioneering smart home solutions across the UK.

Andy's transition began modestly—a one-man electrical business started while still serving in the RAF, sometimes accepting payment in runner beans from grateful elderly clients. This side hustle, built on the foundation of military punctuality and attention to detail, gradually evolved into Moss Technical Services and eventually secured the coveted UK distributorship for Niko Home Control systems.

Unlike many smart home solutions that focus primarily on audiovisual elements, Niko targets the electrical backbone of installations—lighting, heating, ventilation, and shading control. The system's elegant design eliminates "wall acne" by incorporating thermostats and humidity sensors directly into light switches, creating cleaner aesthetics while enhancing functionality. As Andy aptly puts it, "We expect lights to come on when it goes dark in our cars. We expect wipers to start when it rains. We need to bring homes to that level."

The conversation explores Moss Tech's philosophy of quality over price, their survival through the 2008 recession, and how that challenging period led to the creation of Cost of Cancer—a charity founded by Andy's wife, Nicky, that helps families pay bills during cancer treatment. Their newly opened showroom demonstrates how Niko integrates with brands like Control4, HD Anywhere, and Sonos to create comprehensive smart home experiences.

With an industry-wide skills shortage, Moss Tech now focuses on training the next generation of smart home professionals through personalised, hands-on courses. Whether you're an electrician looking to expand your expertise, an architect seeking seamless home automation solutions, or a homeowner dreaming of intelligent living spaces, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of residential technology.

Trinnov Interview - New Altitude CI - Stunning new Paris HQ details revealeD

Stuart Burgess — Tue, 28 May 2019 15:13:10 +0000

Have you ever wondered what happens when you place 22 identical speakers around a dining room in Versailles? For Trinnov Audio founder Arnaud Laborie, this experiment revealed how dramatically speaker placement affects sound reproduction, sparking a revolution in 3D audio processing that continues to this day.

David Meyerowitz takes us through Trinnov's fascinating journey from its early experiments to its current position as an audio processing innovator. The company's philosophy centres on high spatial resolution through multiple speakers, with their Optimizer technology correcting phase and impulse response issues that acoustic treatments alone cannot address. "For me, it's not a race," David explains about their methodical approach to development, "it's about supporting people if I can."

Trinnov is entering an exciting new chapter with the upcoming release of their Altitude CI processor at CEDIA Denver. This innovative product embraces audio-over-IP technology, replacing traditional analogue connections with network-based distribution for greater flexibility and simplified wiring. Meanwhile, construction continues on their groundbreaking new Paris headquarters—a purpose-built facility featuring an 8x8x8 meter anechoic chamber, variable acoustic labs, and multiple demo spaces. The building itself reflects Trinov's attention to detail, with Arnaud personally selecting from dozens of concrete finish samples to achieve the perfect aesthetic.

Beyond the technology, we explore David's participation in the 55-mile London to Brighton charity bike ride for Together For Cinema, which creates cinema rooms in children's hospices. In true enthusiast fashion, David plans to extend his journey to 280 miles by cycling from his Suffolk home to the starting line and back again afterwards. His dedication mirrors Trinnov's commitment to pushing boundaries while giving back to the community.

Visit Trinnov's YouTube channel to see incredible case studies across residential, pro audio, and commercial cinema applications, or explore their website's technology section for in-depth white papers on their groundbreaking audio solutions.