Voice-activated devices like Amazon Echoes are joining Edina, MN homes like yours in droves. According to a report by Strategy Analytics, Q4 sales of smart speakers reached 12 million units worldwide. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if many of them were wrapped in holiday paper right now.

Many smart home owners enjoy the novelty of hearing weather updates, playing music, getting recipe assistance and more, but some individuals and households ask Alexa to simplify their lifestyles, too. She isn’t just for fun: Alexa provides many time-savings and stress-relieving benefits. We’ve identified some people who might need her help next year.

With so many smart devices around us, from smart thermostats to lighting, how we interact with them is important.  In fact, human interface design is so important it’s a prime reason why people choose one product over another, especially when it comes to technology.  Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh?  IOS or Android?  These are some systems that have significant differences in how you interact with them, and many people have strong preferences about one or the other.

Control4 is a clear leader in smart home automation.  One significant way it leads is with the number of choices the system provides to control your home’s functions and smart devices.

The best way to see all the interface options for your Eden Prairie home is to visit our showroom.  Lelch AV is a Platinum Control4 dealer in the Twin Cities area, and our showroom is a great way to learn about all the possibilities with smart home automation.

But first, let’s tell you a few ways Control4 enables you do smart home automation your way.

It’s always nice to be recognized.  Lelch AV was recently honored with a Trillium award from the Builder’s Association of the Twin Cities.  The awards go to projects that builders are particularly proud of with their trade partners and subcontractors – like us – getting the Trillium award.

The winning project involved a significant remodel and finish-out of a large basement space.  The client had several objectives, and we listened carefully to their needs.  They wanted a home theater room, but it was to be design-focused and minimalist, both in terms of equipment and operation. 

They wanted access to music and video entertainment from various sources across the home theater and an adjacent exercise room.  While they desired excellent audio and video quality, they did not want speakers and subwoofers visible.  The client was not technology-focused, and wanted simple, intuitive control of the whole system.  They also wanted a system they could grow with to add future capabilities.  Finally, the client wanted to adhere to a budget as well.

We’re happy to report that the projected succeeded at all these levels.  Read on to learn more details about this smart home technology showcase in Plymouth.

In the excitement of a new home project, whether it’s a new build or a remodel, low-voltage wiring is one of those things that may get overlooked. Designers, builders, and homeowners may get wrapped up in the many other details of a project. Low-voltage wiring is much easier and less expensive to install before drywall is installed, and even if changes are required in that stage, it is relatively simple to do. If the requirements are not well thought out and planned early on, wiring can still be changed – but the project’s costs may increase, and some functionality may be compromised. 

Why is low-voltage wiring important? Today’s smart homes have many devices that will need to be enabled through low-voltage wiring. In fact, with today’s LED lighting technology, low-voltage wiring may be more extensive than electrical wiring in some cases!  As experts in all residential audio-video and smart home technology, Lelch Audio-Video is the low-voltage contractor you’ll want to bring in early in your next Lakeville MN project.

Let’s explore why low-voltage planning is so important.

When you’re about to start your smart technology installation journey, it can all seem quite daunting.  Where do you even begin?

Luckily, when you have the best home automation company on your team, you will get the smart home you’ve been dreaming of – with the right products and brands, top-notch features and technologies – and without any of the hassle involved in the installation.

We know that the installation process can be overwhelming.  That’s why we’re here to make it an easy and effective time for you, so you can start enjoying your Eden Prairie, MN living space as soon as possible.

Keep on reading below to learn why the proper smart home company can make all the difference for your plans.

Many of our clients come to us without a vision for their new home automation system.

They’re interested in adding convenience to their lifestyle and smart home technology to their property, but they don’t know how an entire automation system will work within their house.

If you aren’t sure how automating your home might affect your property, this is the blog for you.

Below, we’ll review our “Modern Craft” project and how we, as a Control4 dealer, built a whole-house automation system that the client loved.

Just keep reading to find out more.

Imagine your home responding to your every need, day in and out.  Daily life can be a breeze when you have smart home technology throughout your Prairie, MN property.

But if you’re just starting out, it can seem overwhelming.  Where do you begin, what do you want to be included, and how can you add on in the future?

Not to worry – we break down the basics for you and introduce you to a product that can make the transition easy.

Read on below to learn more!

Here’s some news for you: 2017 was a fascinating year for Control4.

The smart home technology business started the year with an announcement that it became the first to add cloud-based connected home management to their routers. The good news continued with the acquisition of Triad Speakers, a high-end audio brand.

The positive developments continued all the way into the fall when the company was named a CES 2018 Innovations Award Nominee for upgrades to its latest operating software release.

With an updated Control4 system, you can give your Lakeville, MN home the latest in automation technology. 

We at Lelch Audio Video are proud to be a Control4 dealer that can customize a solution for your property. Below, we’ll look back at some of Control4’s most exciting developments over the past few months.