CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Audio Design Associates



CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Richard D. Stoerger

Audio Design Associates, Inc.

914-946-9595

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Richard@ada-

AUDIO DESIGN ASSOCIATES INTRODUCES

A MULTI-ROOM SYSTEM THAT WILL SET THE STANDARD FOR BOTH FEATURE AND PRICE

THE SUITE 16 AUDIO/VIDEO MULTI-ROOM SYSTEM

WHITE PLAINS, New York (September 7, 2001) - Audio Design Associates, Inc. (ADA) announced that it has unveiled its latest multi-room audio video system, the Suite 16, at the CEDIA Expo, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Suite 16 can be used with any type of control system and is loaded with features that make it the most advanced multi-room controller/preamplifier available. It is also priced to compete against any multi-room mainframe. Albert G. Langella, ADA’s President, CEO and Chief Design Engineer, has been working on Suite 16 for the better part of 2001. “As we enter this new world of integration, ADA set out to redefine the standard of excellence in multi-room technology. This was no easy task as many custom installers and even consumers, feel that quality can be compromised somewhat, if the price is right.” It is no coincidence that the Suite 16 includes every feature in the book. Langella continues, “I have twenty-five years experience in designing house-wide AV equipment. That’s typically twenty years more than most other design engineers out there. It should come as no surprise that while ADA is pushing the envelope on multi-room systems, with our Rhapsody and now, the all-new Silk Multi-Channel Multi-Room Systems, that I still had a trick or two up my sleeve for the more generic two-channel systems.”

Suite 16 indeed does have it all. Fundamentally, Suite 16 is based around a chassis called the AVP-16. It features a front panel power switch, RS-232 port (for programming and installation), and a display window that shows system activity. The rear panel features three identical card slots. Even the power supply section slides into a fourth slot so that it can be easily serviced in the field. There are three card “module” options available, an input card called the A-16, a preamplifier card called the P-16, and a composite video switching card called the V-16. These "suite" of card options can be combined in multiple configurations across several AVP-16 chassis. There are also two multi-channel power amplifiers specifically designed for the Suite 16, the PTM-1225 and the PTM-1260. The PTM-1225 provides medium power to six zones. The PTM-1260 provides high-power to six zones.

The Suite 16 needs only one A-16 Audio Input Module. This card features sixteen stereo audio inputs and allows for each input level to be adjusted independently. As one switches from one source component to another, the sound level is the same. There are two 9-pin “D” style connectors, which are low voltage triggers that engage per source selected. ADA’s ACC-48 Source AC Switchers connect directly to these ports and are used to turn sources on and off as needed. “Many people ask us why we offer to completely remove power from source components when they are not in use. The answer is easy,” states Langella. “ADA Systems have a history of longevity. Around 90 percent of our first generation systems, those dating back to the late 70’s and early 80’s are still in operation today. Through solid engineering, we can control the reliability and service of our own components. The best we can do for CD players, tuners, etc, is to make certain that they are off when they are not in use. This can be an extremely valuable feature and that is why all of our systems offer some type of source AC control.”

The A-16 also features a paging input and three types of paging triggers. The first two types of paging triggers are initiated from a phone or paging system. There is both an audio sensing trigger and a low-voltage sensing trigger where each trigger engages its own page room group. The installer determines which rooms are in that trigger’s specific room group. The third trigger is serially controllable and permits for paging to six room groups or even room-to-room paging. The paging section of the A-16 incorporates a built-in adjustable paging compressor. This will prevent speakers from blowing up in the event that someone yells into a telephone. Each room also has a paging audio level preset which is independent from a room’s volume level. So even if the music is blasting in a room, the page comes through at a normal level, interrupting the music and then returning to music when the page is concluded. Chuck Kittelson, ADA’s Director of Sales notes, “Today, systems are required to do more than just simple music. Albert has included a paging feature that not only allows for paging, but does so in a manner that is more extensive than any other system. For customers that require paging integration, Suite 16 is the only real option out there.”

The P-16 Preamplifier Module is equally fitted with features that knock the doors off of conventional multi-room preamps. Each P-16 is outfitted with sixteen stereo audio outputs, each one an independent zone. As such, a single sixteen zone P-16 Module has typically more than enough rooms for a home. However, for large projects, as many as six P-16 Modules can be used in any one system for up to 96 zones of independent audio. An AVP-16 outfitted with one A-16 Module and one P-16 Module delivers up to sixteen audio components to sixteen zones/rooms. The P-16 Preamplifier also features low-voltage trigger outputs for each zone. There are two 9-pin “D” style connectors that respectively trigger with zones 1-6 and zones 7-12. These connect directly to PTM-1225s or PTM-1260s. One P-16 can feed two PTM-1225s, one PTM-1225 and one PTM-1260, or two PTM-1260 power amplifiers. There is also a removable screw terminal connector that provides low voltage triggers for other power amplifiers on zones 13-16.

Acoustically, the P-16 permits the custom installer to set a maximum volume level per zone so that its speakers are protected by intentional or accidental overdrive. Each zone has a turn-on acoustical preset such that volume, bass, treble, balance, and filters always engage as intended. Volume, bass, and treble can be controlled in one of three ways: up, down, or direct. The direct method is ideal for touch-screen integrators as it permits true slider control. There is a balance feature per zone to permit the room to sound great even if the speakers are located in less than ideal areas of the room. Each room also has a loudness contour and stereo enhancement filter. The loudness contour filter is often used when the subwoofer of the speakers are small or when enhanced bass is desired. The stereo enhancement filter expands the sound stage and is ideal when speakers are too close together. There are four volume presets, four tone presets, and two balance presets giving touch screen programmers a great deal of flexibility when designing page presets. The P-16 also permits each zone to down mix to mono which is useful when running only one speaker in a zone or when speakers are in a row (as in a hallway or gallery). Each zone can also be set to either variable or fixed line-level audio output. Variable outputs are used to send signal to power amplifiers. Fixed outputs are used to send audio signals to other preamplifiers (such as surround sound decoders) or recording devices. For several independent rooms that are open to each other, party grouping options exist. These rooms can never play different sources at the same time that might conflict acoustically.

The V-16 Video Switcher Module has sixteen composite video inputs and sixteen composite video outputs. Much like the P-16, several V-16 Modules (across multiple AVP-16 chassis) can be used in any one system. For sources that provide an audio output along with a video output, the video signal can be routed to the room’s TV or video display. Kittelson notes, “Not every room will have a TV and not every source will have a video output. That will leave several video inputs and outputs open on the V-16. This is perfect as it permits other devices that produce a video signal to be included on the system as well as non-traditional video display devices. For example, if a system has only 7 components that produce a video signal, the remaining 9 video inputs can be used to route closed circuit TV cameras. If this same home had only 10 TVs, then the remaining 6 outputs could be used to deliver signal to a touch-screen control capable of displaying video. Much like the advanced paging feature, Suite 16 is the only system to integrate both paging and security cleanly.” The V-16 also features a low voltage trigger per video input which can be used to power-up a closed circuit TV camera as it is selected.

Most import Suite 16 is the quality of its sound. Richard D. Stoerger, Vice President and C.O.O. expressed his thoughts. “For the past two years we have been hearing ‘its good enough’,” referring to the sound of the many multi-room options available. “At ADA, we stress the importance of sound quality because it is in fact the lasting aspect of a music system. For those who remember the days of hi-fi, you used to expect great sound, even when you spending only hundreds of dollars. Today, customers spend not hundreds, but tens-of-thousands of dollars on systems that sound ‘good nuf’. The reality is that, after the ‘toy’ factor of the control passes, the one thing consumers are left with is the sound. They will always listen to a new song or album. If the sound leaves you wanting today, it won’t get better with time. Suite 16 comes to the rescue because it combines massive features, easy integration with any control system on the market, and awesome sound, all at an extremely competitive price.” While Suite 16 Systems can vary in size and function, a system with one AVP-16, one A-16, one P-16, and two PTM-1225s retails for under $7500. That gives the customer as many as sixteen source inputs, twelve zones with amplification, and four zones that can be amplified (if more rooms are needed) or can be used to send audio signals to home theater receivers/preamps as well as recording devices. Stoerger concludes, “While ADA’s focus is on the ultra-high-end custom installation, we have not abandoned the entry-level cusotmer. Suite 16 secures our position in this market place. Expect dealers to be talking about this one long after the CEDIA Expo. It is in all ways, an extremely sweet system indeed.”

Headquartered in White Plains, New York, ADA has been the undisputed leader in the fields of high-end home theater and multi-room technology since 1977.

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