AVA, a Swiss-American manufacturer of connected home products, is launching and shipping the company’s first products, the AVA 2.1 Streaming Audio System and the AVA Remote.
AVA has created an elegantly designed connected Streaming Audio System that pairs with company’s advanced remote control, the AVA Remote. AVA is selling their premium products available exclusively through the professional installation channel.
AVA is led by CEO and co-founder Raphael Oberholzer, former Control4 senior director, products, and former founder and CEO of NEEO AG, the remote control brand acquired by Control4 in 2019. The company’s leadership team also includes former Control4 executive Ted Haeger and Control4/NEEO team member Patrick Domenig.
The Streaming Audio System was developed in collaboration with the Swiss audio company, Revox, which is known for building highly respected studio audio equipment.
“AVA is on a mission to put true stereo back into people’s homes, while providing all the advantages of todays most popular connected speakers,” Oberholzer said. “Not only is this how music is recorded, but it is also the best way to reproduce the experience intended by the artist and the sound engineers. Anything less does not do their work justice and is a huge miss when it comes to the actual and emotional listening experience. We’re tremendously proud of what we have created and we cannot wait to share AVA with the rest of the world.”
Intended as a true-stereo 2.1 channel system, the Streaming Audio System consists of two AVA Speakers and one AVA Bass Module. The AVA A1 Speaker features a full-range driver and all the other required components, including the streamer, premium DAC and DSP, and two digital stereo amplifiers contained within the ultra-compact enclosure.
B1 Bass Module
The B1 Bass Module connects to the A1 via Kleer, a wireless high-end audio protocol with zero latency. AVA’s goal was to seamlessly combine the simplicity and versatility of connected speakers with the sound quality of true high-end speakers.
AVA Speaker
The AVA Speaker (available as an active model or passive version) leverages the same full-range driver for identical acoustic performance. The goal of company’s real-time DSP within the A1 speaker is to ensure flawless, high-end audio performance regardless of genre.
The B1 is a unique and critical part of the full AVA system. Within the 2.1 Streaming Audio System, all controls such as gain, phase, and the frequency crossover point are handled dynamically.
In real-time, the DSP controls which audio frequencies are sent to the connected components within the system and adjusts playback depending on what is called for by the source audio. Done this way, the B1 Bass Module becomes a homogeneous extension of the Streaming Audio System, delivering a dynamic, vibrant listening experience.
Additionally, the A1 Speaker features an integrated Touch UI that enables quick access to important controls, including instant-play of up to five pre-set favorites directly from the speaker. The A1 Speaker includes a built-in rechargeable battery further ensuring uninterrupted audio play back. In terms of connectivity, the AVA Streaming Audio System supports Wi-Fi, luetooth, as well as Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and UPNP.
AVA Remote
The AVA Remote is powered by a quad-core, 2 GHz processor. It is an Android-based touchscreen remote control and the world’s first Google Certified remote control. This certification unlocks the full power of the Google Play Store, enabling the download and use of native Android Apps to provide a game changing experience for smart home systems and device control directly from the AVA Remote. The Remote is one of the most powerful handheld Android-based devices available in the industry and easily handles Control4, Savant, Crestron, Sonos, and Lutron.
A high-density touchscreen provides smooth and rapid response for actions and the Remote includes an integrated speaker and microphone supporting voice control via Google Assistant or intercom use. The AVA Remote also features Bluetooth, NFC, an accelerometer, an integrated rear-panel fingerprint sensor, and GPS.
The Remote features lift-to-wake functionality not just for the AVA Streaming Audio System, but for any smart home system or device with an Android app. This flexibility allows the AVA Remote to be used for purposes far beyond simply controlling the Streaming Audio System.
AVA is focusing exclusively on the professional installer channel. They want their CI dealer-channel partners to have products that deliver on experience, performance, and margin. If you’re a dealer go here, you will get a code to register and attend AVA’s webinar on March 16 at 11:00 am EST.
The 2.1 Streaming Audio System is shipping today with a U.S. MSRP of $3,200. The AVA Remote is also shipping today with a U.S. MSRP of $1,299.
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