Connected Home May 2011
WHEN CRESTRON SPARES NO EXPENSE TO DEVELOP A HIGH-END DISTRIBUTED AV SYSTEM, CAN YOU REALLY PUT A PRICE ON IT? STEPHEN FENECH FINDS OUT.
When working on a high end home theatre, the last thing you’d want to do is compromise on quality – especially if your client is as big an audiophile as they are a movie enthusiast. This combination means the quality of the image is just as important as the quality of the sound.
George Lucas – a man who knows a thing or two about creating an all-round movie experience – is famously quoted as saying “sound is 50% of the movie-going experience”. You can also thank George for the surround systems we now enjoy in our homes which were inspired by his efforts to present a little science fiction
When working on a high end home theatre, the last thing you’d want to do is compromise on quality – especially if your client is as big an audiophile as they are a movie enthusiast. This combination means the quality of the image is just as important as the quality of the sound.
George Lucas – a man who knows a thing or two about creating an all-round movie experience – is famously quoted as saying “sound is 50% of the moviegoing experience”. You can also thank George for the surround systems we now enjoy in our homes which were inspired by his efforts to present a little science fiction fantasy fi lm called Star Wars in the best possible way in theatres.
It is this similar “go big or go home” attitude by Crestron – a company best known for control and automation systems – which gave birth to the Procise home theatre surround system. The company’s engineers were instructed by founder George Feldstein to pull out all the stops and make a system that’s better than the most well known industry brands on the market.
Even the name of the product is a derivative of the words “professional” and “precise” and these can definitely be used to describe it. The Procise system is comprised of the PSPHD high definition surround sound processor and the PROAMP professional grade amplifier. The PSPHD’s front panel is dominated by digital controls and meters which, like an 80s system, can provide visual feedback and the light show that goes with it - if that’s what you want. But it can be also be disabled and even locked off completely so no-one can fiddle with the finely calibrated controls.
It has six HDMI inputs which support 7.1HD multi-channel audio and 1080p/60 video along with 10 SPDIF inputs, three mix inputs and eight analogue nputs so connectivity will never be an issue. HDMI is important because it is the only way to get native 7.1 lossless audio from the source. We all know that any type of analogue processing can affect sound quality which is why customers will always find HDMI on all source devices.
The three channel audio mixers can come in handy if the Procise system is installed in a boardroom or corporate environment to enable easier conferencing, dedicated speech-only channels and even karaoke. Home theatre owners will adore the 7.3 HD surround processing which can not only precisely deliver an excellent sound performance from your speakers but allow for up to three subwoofers to work in perfect harmony for consistent and effective bass coverage.
Also on board is Audyssey MultiEQ XT which can fine tune your listening environment with even more detail than ever. The Procise PSPHD can equalise 1,000 points for every channel in up to 32 points in the room. It is actually the same technology that is used to calibrate IMAX theatres. This means the system will sound good no matter where you choose to sit in the room whether it’s the size of an auditorium, boardroom or home theatre.
The other half of the Procise system is the PROAMP 7X400 which can supply a massive total of 2.8kW of power. That’s 400W RMS per channel into 8Ω and 700W per channel into 4Ω. In fact there’s a power supply for each channel which is yet another feature designed to produce even cleaner and clearer sound.
On board is an efficient Class D amplifier that weighs 49kg but yet it amazingly needs no rack clearance because it produces virtually no heat. This factor will also help preserve the life of the components so the system can you serve you well into the future. Of course the system integrates seamlessly with a Crestron control system thanks to the built-in Crestnet and high speed Ethernet connectivity. From a Crestron touch panel, computer or mobile device users can monitor temperature and signal status and also receive fault alerts if any.
But how does the system sound? In a word – astounding. For our testing we sampled a few clips from a musical, an action film and a concert which showcased the length and breadth of the Procise’s audio range. Whether it is minute sounds or a huge Holywood number, the Procise system delivered the kind of output that ears tuned to decent audio would appreciate.
The amount of detail and clarity in the sound when Catherine Zeta Jones and co-stars belted out a song from behind bars in the movie Chicago demonstrated that going from the sound of a dripping tap to the all out chorus was nothing the Procise couldn’t handle. This was demonstrated even further when the Sydney concert for US singer Pink was slotted into the Blu-ray Disc player. The surrounding sound output
put us in the middle of what sounded like a live performance with bass that could not only be heard but also felt. The action adventure fi lm was Master and Commander starring Russell Crowe – arguably one of the best sounding films in recent years. The scene early in the fi lm when Captain Jack Aubrey (Crowe) spots the elusive French ship in the fog bank and orders the crew to hit the deck was one of the best surround scenes I ever heard.
The cannon balls which tear through the wooden masts and decks along with the tearing of the sails and breaking human limbs could all be distinguished in the glorious cacophony without overdoing it or red-lining the output. The Procise systems – which includes the PSPHD surround sound processor and the PROAMP 7X400 – aren’t the cheapest products in the world but for those aiming at putting together a high end system they will enjoy for years to come, it is money well spent.
If your love of audio knows no limit then a system that offers no compromise is what’s required. The Procise is that system.