For some homeowners, audio is the finishing touch, with the latest and greatest product fulfilling their audiovisual vision. Ronnie North, owner of Metairie, La.-based NorthStar Audio/Video, has a reputation for bringing new things to the table for such discerning clients.
A key aspect of NorthStar Audio/Video’s success is North’s proactive approach to customer communication. Regularly updating his clients about new products and technological advancements, often through personalized emails and text messages, North fosters loyalty and repeat business.
One of his long-time clients, known for his enthusiasm for the latest AV, had a well-established outdoor audio setup that NorthStar Audio Video installed seven years ago.
The system, comprising eight Russound Satellite Outdoor speakers and an all-weather AW10-LSUB-BR subwoofer powered by a D1650 amp, was still performing flawlessly. However, when the Russound D1290 was released, North saw an opportunity to enhance the client’s experience even further.
“When I saw the low-pass and high-pass filters to full on the back, I told him it would take only one dedicated wire to that sub for pumping audio. He was onboard,” North remarks.
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
The Russound D1290 amplifier, part of the D-Series known for premium performance, reliability, and durability, promised a significant upgrade.
The newest generation builds upon the legacy of these prestigious products. Each of the models within the series is designed to expand an audio system into more rooms or areas, or to add increased audio output for larger rooms or outdoor areas where a higher output volume is required.
Delivering up to 90 watts per channel, the D1290 uses an advanced digital design, which results in smaller chassis sizes than in any previous generation of Russound amplifiers — only a single rack-unit in height.
Each amp zone can be configured without any equipment — set the switches on the back, and it’s ready. This helps save installers a lot of time in any multichannel amplification project.
The D1290 amp provided a flexible and more powerful solution for the homeowner. (Courtesy of Russound/NorthStar)
Plus, the D-Series amps include new, easily configurable audio filter options to let integrators like NorthStar customize the audio output for the desired application. Any stereo pair, zone, or bridged speaker connection on the D-Series models can be set to output three different options.
Full Range Sound enables between 20Hz and 20kHz to the connected loudspeaker(s). Low Pass Filter allows the speakers to only receive low-frequency audio signals, from about 20Hz to 160Hz, ideal for supporting passive subwoofers that are adding extra bass to the room.
The High Pass Filter allows the zone or channel to focus on only the higher frequencies — from 80Hz and up — without wasting energy on lower-frequency sounds that can clutter the room’s audio with unwanted bass or standing waves.
“The new amp gives me more options to do what I want to do,” North says of the Russound solution.
“With this amp, I set all eight of his AW6 LS-BR speakers to their correct setting and came out line level for his MCA-88 in selected zones, so he can adjust each zones speaker level. I also made the AW10-LSUB a zone out, so he can crank the subwoofer as loud as he wants.”
The subwoofer stays low-profile behind foliage in this yard. (Courtesy of Russound/NorthStar Audio Video)
The customer can also expand the system whenever it’s time, without the need for separate amplifiers and separate audio connections for every area, according to North.
The D-Series amplifiers allow for up to three input choices for every channel. Installers can use two available bus inputs as the input for any channel, or they can use a dedicated input. One D-Series amp can power multiple speakers or they can be bridged for applications that demand even more power.
The amplifiers also offer three turn-on modes: Always On, ready 24/7; Signal Sensing, which reduces its energy consumption to less than 0.5 watts of power when not being; and 12V Trigger, which allows an installer to program when the amplifier turns on and off.
“The install took me 45 minutes,” North says.
“But more importantly, it sounds awesome — maybe too awesome since his wife and neighbor started complaining.”
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