Have you ever started something you couldn’t finish because you lacked the technical know-how to follow through with the project? We’ve all been there, and back—because human beings are stubborn creatures. Rather than accepting our limitations, we continue to dive head on into the unknown abyss. While admirable in some respect, starting a project and not following through is—for all intensive purpose—a waste of resources.

Time and money are two of the most valuable assets a person can possess. One cannot exist without the other, and so we must treasure both equally. We need time to generate money, and if we squander our precious time on projects that yield zero return it would be quite a shame.

So before you start your smart home projects, keep in mind that there are a lot of things you must educate yourself about before you get your hands dirty. Some things you should consider include:

1. Do you understand the concept?
The word “smart” is often tossed around easily by consumers, but what makes something smart? Are plain LCDs and shoddy control panels enough to deem something as smart? Or, does it have to connect to a customized infrastructure capable of handling the desired functionalities? Smart home technology has to be nurtured and taught to behave in a certain way (if this than that), and we all know technology can often be nerve wrecking and stressful if not executed correctly when instead it should be intuitive.

2. The latest and greatest
Technology evolves at a blistering rate, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Are you dedicated enough to keep up with the trends constantly? Everyday consumers have priorities, and smart home professionals are well aware of that. That is why they make it their priority to stay on top of what you don’t have time for.

3. Speaking the language
You’re a brilliant physicists and you can explain the workings of quantum mechanics like Dr. Seuss, but do you speak IT? In other words, can you quickly pull up a wealth of information about smart home technology without having to pull up articles? Smart home professionals are IT professionals and/or Audio-Video Professional, so they’re adept in the art of programming and deploying hardware and software for various purposes. Of course, they can do this just like how you can explain the laws of the universe in layman’s terms.

4. Professionals save you money by not screwing up
At this point, you’re probably aware of the logic behind specialists. Fixing your own roof, and then only to have it leaking is not the ideal situation. When you start a project that ends up in shamble, you need to either double the effort or hire a professional. Either way, you’ll be spending a lot more than what you could have if you hired a profession initially. People become specialists because they want to save you time and money, not drain you of your resources.

Tags: Customer Service

Control4 West Vancouver - Home Automation by Digital Smart Homes from Digital Smart Homes on Vimeo.

Complete Home Control, Control4 Home Automation system by Digital Smart Homes in West Vancouver.

This completely renovated home was originally built in 1973. It has transformed beautifully into a modern contemporary home. All the technology (including Amplifiers, Cable Boxes, Controllers and more) are completely hidden away from site and placed into centrally located media rack. Lighting, Media, Audio, Video, Security, HVAC and more are intuitively controlled by keypads and 3 built in touch screens throughout the house. The home owners iPad and iPhones also allow for complete control over the entire home and provides for remote access from anywhere in the world. All this keeps the walls clutter free and gives the home a very clean and user friendly feel.

Tags: Control4, Smart Home, Smart Lighting, Home Automation, Home Control, Lighting, Audio Distribution

An immersive cinema experience is never too far away with Dolby’s new Atmos sound system. What sets Dolby Atmos apart from other premium sound systems is that it is built upon a brand new sound technology that reproduces the sound of individual objects instead of ‘mixing’ them in conventional channels.

Sound engineers have, for quite awhile, been restricted to just a few channels when putting together tracks. This means what we usually hear in a song or a movie scene isn’t exactly what the artists wanted to convey.

Dolby Atmos removes this constraint by producing a sound format that’s based on objects instead of channels. Sounds such as a helicopter hovering overhead is reproduced as its own ‘audio object.’ Meaning, the sound of a speeding car below won’t get mixed in, giving you the full experience of the scene as intended by the director.

When you think of sound, we think of it as a being multidimensional. That is, it moves around, above and below us. So it is crucial that sound artists and producers have means of painting a scene that we can all relate to, which they do now with Dolby Atmos.

Although the new object-based sound format is quite revolutionary, it does not mean that users will have to compromise if the entertainment mediums do not support it. The sound system is backward compatible with conventional stereo and 5.1/7.1-channel sounds.



Additionally, Dolby Atmos can scale down the object-based sound experience to fit the needs of headphone users. By combining Dolby Atmos with advance on-the-go technology that relies on things such as outer ear and shoulder cues, headphone users can, too, experience just as much magic as they would in a full-scale home cinema system.

Tags: Home Theater, Dolby

This Christmas, Sonos is changing the way people are searching for music they like. Indeed customers who buy a Sonos PLAY:1, PLAY:3, PLAY:5 or PLAYBAR before the end of the year, will receive twelve months of access to Deezer Premium+ worth over $119, for free. Deezer is the music service that finds music for you based on the tracks you love, so there’s always something on you like.

If you have questions about the Sonos Deezer promotion please contact us for more information.

Tags: Sonos, Music System, Music Server

A Control4 smart-home, in truth, doesn’t have to look like the Death Star from the sci-fi series Star Wars. In fact, any well-wired home is capable of becoming a smart-home. This means that anything from a suburban home to your downtown loft is ready to be transformed with technologies that are readily available at Digital Smart Homes.

Right as you walk into most typical retailers, you will find flat screen televisions flashing left and right. It was only a few years ago that this same technology came in bulky packages—that is the bezel was extremely wide, and the rear encasement took up quite a bit of space.

However, TV manufacturers have greatly improved the designs of these sets, and these days most flat screen LCD/LED TVs have almost no bezel and takes up much less space, which is a welcoming thing when it comes to designing an aesthetically pleasing home. The last thing you want is a bunch of technology is a bulky cabinet underneath that very thin TV.


Smart home technology doesn’t all need to have a flashing screen or blinking lights. Often, smart-home shoppers will overlook things like window/blinds automation. Motorized shades and window coverings can add tremendous value to a home. This technology has been around for quite some time, so finding the right design is never the problem.

Additionally, the smartphone and tablets you’re using everyday are very capable machines, and they can be used as a hub for controlling various lightings and appliances. Some simple upgrades of the switches around the home can give you an incredible amount of automations.

As you gradually chip away at some of the outdated and unappealing aspects of your home, you will find that your home looks nothing like that Death Star but it does provide you with the beauty and comfort that you desire. Visit our Vancouver showroom for a demo on how a Control4 smart home (home automation system) can simplify technology throughout the home and hide electronics from view.

Tags: Home Automation, Home Control, Smart Home, Contro4

A great choice for a large flat panel TV and soundbar, the TOTEM pedestal includes a swivelling universal TV mount and a fixed soundbar mounting bracket, allowing you to place both at the optimal height. Cables are neatly concealed within the rigid steel support column and are easily accessed via removable back panels. A tempered glass shelf keeps a couple of components within easy access.
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Tags: BDI, Furniture, Media Furniture

Tiny accessory. Big wireless performance

Sonos’s latest product is another break-through innovation in wireless technology. Literally. BOOST delivers powerful wireless performance to overcome the thickest walls and greatest distances. BOOST will be available October 14 2014. Read More...

Tags: Music Server, Music System, Sonos, Audio Distribution