Almo Pro AV
Almo Pro AV

Visiting the JBL Experience Center

by | Mar 20, 2025 | Pro Audio, Professional Development, Sound Engineering, Uncategorized

During the last week of January 2025, I had the amazing opportunity to visit the JBL Experience Center in Los Angeles, California. Our fantastic NBT team was invited to host their Lead Summit there and I was lucky enough to get to tag along!

The Experience Center is located in a lovely area of LA – Northridge, CA – and was lucky enough to have escaped the recent wildfire incidents. A sprawling complex, the building is home to both the Experience Center and offices for JBL and Harman engineers, sales and marketing teams, and executives.

We arrived early in the morning and were greeted by JBL wizard David “Tewks” Tewksbury, who served as our tour guide and host for the day. After dropping our bags off in the conference room, we were escorted to the entryway of the Experience Center, which was a feast for the eyes and ears. JBL’s three Grammy awards were showcased in a long hallway which featured JBL Control 126 in-wall speakers playing some light background music. Martin LED lighting strips were programmed to dance to the music, and an AMX Varia touch panel allowed quick control of a number of preset scenes to set the mood.

welcome Exertis Almo From there we were greeted with a personalized surprise – the huge Samsung video wall in the lobby had been customized to welcome the Exertis Almo team to the Experience Center!

One of the best parts of the Experience Center…experience…is that nearly all of the Harman products on display are powered on and ready to be demonstrated. Getting the chance to play with touch panels, hear headphones, test microphones, and hear loudspeakers is not only a fantastic learning experience, but a lot of fun as well!

For example, AKG had two fantastic setups in the main lobby which were a hit with our group – a headphone demo wall and a vocal isolation booth for testing AKG microphones! The headphone demo wall had all of AKG’s studio headphones ready to demo – after donning the headphones of your choice you could select from any of eight music tracks and control volume directly from an AMX touch panel. The vocal demo booth featured AKG’s famous studio microphones – the C214, C314, and the venerable C414 XLii, and a small JBL audio on displaySoundcraft mixer so that you could easily switch between the different models – a very enlightening experience for a mic nerd like myself!

Near the mic and headphone demo areas were rooms highlighting JBL’s consumer and pro-sumer home, Bluetooth, and studio products. JBL’s attractive home audio products like bookshelf speakers, turntables, headphones, PartyBoxes, and other Bluetooth speakers were set up to demo and interact with. Getting to hear the JBL 104-BT desktop monitor speakers in person was the nudge I needed to finally get a set for my work desk at home.

jbl loudspeakers trainingBut all of this was just an introduction to the main hall, where JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS and dbx signal processors, AMX control and video products, and Martin lighting were on full display. Harman has put a lot of effort into this room, and they make it easy to demo, see, and A/B their installed product lineups. Tewks led us though the experience, explaining the differences between the various Crown amplifier series, discussing and demoing the multitude of JBL ceiling and wall-mounted loudspeakers and explaining fun stuff like speaker waveguides.

All of this was powered by one of the prettiest AV equipment rack lineups I’ve ever seen, behind glass and beautifully lit by adjustable RGB lighting. I’ve never considered aesthetically lighting an equipment rack before, but my mind has been changed!jbl equipment racks

If all of this wasn’t enough, the highlight – by far – of our tour was getting to see and hear the brand-new audio demo room. The demo room was recently renovated and professionally acoustically treated, which was amazing to see and hear in person. The large room featured most of JBL’s compact line arrays (such as the CBT 70J-1 and CBT 1000) and outdoor all-weather speakers on one wall. We were able to hear all of these in-situ and compare their advantages and strengths. The outstanding even horizontal coverage and throw distance of these speakers has to be heard to be believed.

jbl line array speakersOn the other wall, at a relatively safe distance, were JBL’s line array speakers flown from the ceiling. The SRX, VRX, and VTX-series line array speakers are JBL’s flagship offerings for large venues, and its not everyday you get to hear this level of performance in a private setting. The folks at Harman very cleverly configured the line array demo to start at the push of a big red button – our own Brent Dowler got to do the honors. After the button was pushed, the lights went down and the show started.

Massive walls of sound – loud, but accurate, crisp, and clear – roared through the room, accompanied by a concert-level Martin lighting show, choreographed to match the music. Everything from hard rock to EDM sounded incredible. The performance literally made the hair stand up on the back of my neck!

After that experience we needed to wind down a little, so we got a chance to relax in JBL’s new Cinema Experience Room, where we got to hear JBL’s excellent range of cinema speakers in a theater-like setting. This room also housed a demo of JBL’s new Control 400 series ceiling speakers, where they could be compared to competitors’ ceiling speaker offerings.

This write-up only scratches the surface of what we got to see and hear at the JBL Experience Center; I’m running out of room and I didn’t even mention the classic JBL speaker displays, the speaker torture test rooms, and the fantastic AMX and Samsung video wall displays. My thanks to our NBT team for inviting me and to Tewks and the rest of the Harman staff for welcoming us!

If you are interested in experiencing the JBL Experience Center for yourself, reach out to me! I’d love an excuse to go back myself.

Want more audio tips? Check out “JBL Ceiling Speakers Demystified“.
John Rossman - headshot-frame

About the Author

John Rossman | CTS

BDM II – Technical Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Harman Professional – AKG, AMX, BSS, Crown, DBX, JBL, Lexicon, Martin, & Soundcraft

The AV MBA | Cash Flow Management when Purchasing DVLED: A Case for Distribution

by | Feb 25, 2025 | Business Development, DVLED, Uncategorized, Video Walls

Payables are fairly predictable in the AV business. Most distributors and suppliers offer NET 30 terms to qualified resellers, and the clock starts ticking upon shipment. A common rumbling I’ve heard over the years is that end-users may be slower to pay due to terms set to ‘payable upon completion’ of the project. If you are an integrator who has been in the business for a while, I’m sure you have run into this scenario, but usually, this will not tie up your receivables for more than 30 to 60 days.

The arrival and increasing demand for DVLED technology has been a great boon for our industry as any new technology is. However, it carries some key distinctions when it comes to cash flow implications compared to typical, traditional AV products.

direct view led First, the average sales price (ASP) for DVLED is comparatively higher than technology such as large format displays (LFD), projectors, and audio. This fact alone immediately has a greater impact on cash flow. Obviously, $10,000 is an easier balance to float for a couple of months than $100,000. So, it is crucial that the balance doesn’t sit on the books for too long and risks impeding an integrator’s ability to pay other scheduled bills.

Another key difference is the supply chain impact on lead time. Aside from All-In-One (AIO) packages, custom configured LED solutions—which make up the majority of the demand—are not readily available to be purchased from manufacturers or distributors. They must be prepared to order, manufactured overseas and shipped via ocean freight. In my experience, the typical lead time for direct shipping a DVLED wall from overseas is more than 100 days. Normally, from a cash flow perspective, this wouldn’t be a problem as the goods would be payable upon receiving or 30 days after receiving if you have credit terms.

However, DVLED is unique in that manufacturers have embraced a standard practice of 1) Requiring a deposit (usually around 30%) up front prior to production, and 2) start the billing clock upon leaving the dock.

All these factors add up and the result is that the integrator is forced to have cash out-of-pocket for a disproportionate amount of time. Thus, potentially disrupting future business.

Here is a breakdown:

Figure 1: Vendor Direct Purchase

Figure 1: Vendor Direct Purchase

Figure 2: Distribution Purchase – Direct Ship from Overseas

Figure 2: Distribution Purchase – Direct Ship from Overseas

Figure 3: Distribution Purchase – Shipping from Domestic Stock

Figure 3: Distribution Purchase – Shipping from Domestic Stock

 

If you compare these cash flow charts, you will see that purchasing direct from a manufacturer (Figure 1) will have the most negative impact on cash flows, as a deposit is required upon placing the order, and the invoice will be generated upon shipping from the factory. This results in outlaying of a portion of cash up front on day one, thus tying up those funds for upwards of 100 days!!! When talking about DVLED projects, a $100,000 project is not uncommon, which would equate to a $30,000 deposit outlay.

When purchasing through distribution (Figure 2), the distributor is responsible for paying the deposit, thus, the reseller is not responsible for any up-front cash down. While invoicing will still begin at the time the order ships, often times, arrangements can be made between the reseller and distributor to assist in mitigating any negative cash flow impact if it is prohibitive to the completion of the project.

Finally, we see the benefits of purchasing DVLED from a distributor that has inventory available in stock. Frequently, this is the case when purchasing through Exertis Almo, as we are one of the only distributors in the U.S. dedicated to stocking both AIO and custom solutions in multiple sizes, configurations and pixel pitches. By purchasing products that are domestically available, the cash-flow impact is flipped, and the balance does not become due until well after a project’s completion in most cases.

Whether you buy through Exertis Almo or vendor direct, it’s important to approach DVLED purchases with eyes wide open, because as they say, Cash is King.

Want more business development advice? Check out Tom’s earlier blog, “The AV MBA: You Can’t Always Get What You Want“.
Tom Keefe BDM

About the Author

Tom Keefe | CTS, DMC-D-4K, DSCE

Category Manager – dvLED

Supported Category: Direct View LED

TAA-Compliant Products Available from Exertis Almo

by | Feb 18, 2025 | Business Development, Cameras, Government, Interactive Touch Displays, Networked AV, Pro Audio, Pro Displays, Signal Distribution, Uncategorized

If you work with customers in the Federal Government space, you’re probably familiar with the term “TAA-Compliant”. For those curious, “TAA” refers to the Trade Agreements Act, and its statute requires that products purchased through government contracts are:

  • Articles [products] that are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of the U.S. or a designated country, or
  • Articles [products] that are “substantially transformed” in the U.S. or a designated country into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed.

TAA Compliant logoThe Trade Agreements Act (TAA) was enacted to encourage fair and open international trade, but in practice it has implemented the requirement that the US government may only acquire US- or “designated end country”-made end products.

While this statute can seem quite limiting on first glance, in practice there are plenty of products available to meet your customers’ needs while remaining TAA-compliant. The list of “designated countries” outside of the US is substantial, and includes countries you may not have considered compliant, including Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, and Singapore.

To assist with identifying TAA-compliant products, Exertis Almo has recently added a new field to Almo Access which readily shows whether a product is compliant:

TAA products specifications

So what are some examples of TAA-compliant products available through Exertis Almo? The list might surprise you, and give you ideas of opportunities you may not have considered before: CSA series

AMPLIFIERS

Lumens OIP-N seriesAV OVER IP ENCODERS/DECODERS

C2G 501 seriesCABLES

Sony CAMERAS

Nureva huddlecamCONFERENCING

AMX VariaCONTROL

DISPLAYS

LOUDSPEAKERS

MICROPHONES

Chief display mountsMOUNTS

NETWORK SWITCHES

PROJECTORS

BrightSign TAA media player for digital signageDIGITAL SIGNAGE

VIDEO EXTENSION AND PROCESSING

This is just a sampling of the many products Exertis Almo has available for your projects which require TAA compliance. If you have questions regarding whether or not a certain product is TAA-compliant or have any technical questions, reach out to your Business Development Manager or to any of our Account Managers for assistance!

Want more audio tips? Check out “Enhance Your AV Projects with Pro Audio Solutions“.
John Rossman - headshot-frame

About the Author

John Rossman | CTS

BDM II – Technical Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Harman Professional – AKG, AMX, BSS, Crown, DBX, JBL, Lexicon, Martin, & Soundcraft

Competitive Esports: What’s It All About?

by | Feb 13, 2025 | Business Development, Cameras, eSports, Pro Displays, Uncategorized

Over the past few months, I went on a journey to gain a better understanding of Esports. With over 30 years in this industry, my exposure and knowledge level about this new and growing business was very limited at best. Other than the discussions with my niece and attending a few webinars hosted by rAVe’s Gary Kayye, I intended to expand my personal knowledge – and hopefully share some of that information with you.

Over the past few years, Esports has transformed from a niche activity into a global phenomenon, with large audiences, sponsorships, and college programs dedicated to competitive gaming. While Esports is rising in popularity across many universities, the term can still be a bit of a mystery for those who aren’t immersed in the gaming world. Simply put, Esports focuses on competitive video gaming, where players and teams participate in organized tournaments, often with large audiences watching online or live at arenas.

In a recent article about the rapid expansion of Esports, rAVe’s Clara Mello details the large market potential for competitive gaming. Thanks to its expansion into college programs, the gaming market was valued at $187 billion with 335 million players and viewers when rAVe’s article was published.

esports-arena-displaysBut it’s not just about the games — there’s a long list of audiovisual technology that helps bring these epic events to life. Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of Esports and discuss how AV solutions are driving this industry.

In conversation with Keith Vidger, Engineering Manager for Pro Video and Audio at Panasonic, we discussed the key factors that contribute to a successful Esports setup. First and foremost, it’s important to differentiate Esports streaming from broadcasting.

“There are many rules and procedures used for broadcasting at conventional sporting events,” he explained. “These rules do not apply when you’re not broadcasting over the air, so there’s no need for delay.”

While the government requires that traditional broadcasts insert several seconds of delay, these rules do not need to be followed when streaming. Instead, streams should have one frame or lower latency. And in competitive Esports, latency and lag are major concerns. With each game requiring split-second decisions, even a few milliseconds of delay can cost players the game.

“Certain applications do not care about lag, but [in Esports,] 3-microseconds versus 2-microseconds of lag could be the difference between winning and losing a game,” Vidger said. “[Traditional] broadcasting caused an unnecessary delay that was detrimental to the game players.”

Additionally, the growing popularity of Esports wouldn’t be complete without the rise of platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Many Esports events are streamed live on Twitch, where millions of fans tune in to watch the action unfold in real time. Pre-recorded events are frequently uploaded to YouTube, where they can be revisited by fans after the event is over.

So, how does the right AV gear enhance an Esports event? Here are a few necessary products that are designed to help these competitions run smoothly and efficiently.

PTZ Cameras

Panasonic Connect PTZ cameras Panasonic’s AW-UE150 and AW-UE160 cameras are excellent choices for Esports events, as they provide crystal-clear images and capture fast-moving gameplay. For smaller setups or more budget-friendly options, the AW-UE30 and AW-UE40 are also great choices.PTZ cameras by Panasonic Connect

Explore the Panasonic PTZ Camera lineup.

Displays

While the players often have access to their own personal monitors during an Esports event, large displays are an essential component of an arena. These displays show the competition to large, in-person crowds and give attendees a close-up look at key moments.

Looking towards the future of competitive Esports, Vidger finds that the largest point of change is in the organization of the sport itself, as there are many different leagues that can employ players and drive revenue. He expects that the scope and reach of these leagues continues to expand, with more university campuses requesting these audio-visuals systems to host competitive Esports events.

Overall, Esports is a fast-growing segment for the AV industry. In my opinion, it’s a very interesting topic, especially if you are not really involved in playing any games. If you’re looking to experience an Esports event, I’d recommend going on Twitch to watch an online stream. This is an area that brings opportunities for all of us to provide equipment for these events. Additionally, Esports also presents itself as a rapidly growing business segment, which will only bring even more discovery of products and services.

This was an educational and eye-opening process for me, and I’ll share some useful links and resources so you can peruse them, too!  With any questions, please reach out to me, your Exertis Almo representative, and/or your Panasonic TAM for assistance.

Resources for You

Angie Greene
About the Author

Angie Greene | DSCE

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturers: Panasonic Connect

Want a New Year’s Resolution? Put the “Professional” in Pro AV

by | Feb 11, 2025 | Business Development, Cameras, Collaboration, Pro Audio, Professional Development, Uncategorized

Are you eating healthy, exercising and doing all that you can to take care of yourself and your family? Are you doing all you can to further your advancement and make yourself more valuable to the company that you work for? Did you get a professional headshot for your web page and LinkedIn profile?

You do all these things because you’re supposed to be a responsible adult but so many of you still look and sound terrible in every video call. I can’t tell how many times I’ve witnessed an executive level person of an AV related company or organization sound and look terrible during an industry interview or podcast. It’s so bad that it’s unusual when they do it well.

I would argue that you are tarnishing your value as a supplier, client and coworker if you don’t get the basics of sound and video correct on a personal level.

unprofessional audiovisual presentationHere is a list of things that I don’t want to see or hear including my nicknames for each:

  • Only one half of your face because the rest is out of frame. (Abstract Art)
  • Only one side of your face because you’re not looking at the camera. (The Profile)
  • A dark face because you’re poorly lit. (Witness Protection Mode)
  • Way too much space above the top of your head. (Kilroy Was Here)
  • Your chin. (The Uppercut)
  • An empty conference table with you at the far end. (The Bowling Alley)
  • Your laptop microphone. (Speakerphone Mode)
  • Your videobar 25 feet away from you. (1/24 Scale)

Face it. Literally. Your laptop camera and microphone look and sound terrible. Your lighting is non-existent. Why are you using the built-in $2.00 microphone and $10.00 webcam to try and sell someone on the need to invest $100K in their conference room?

Promote the value in a quality audiovisual investment starting at your desk – convey your professionalism one-on-one.

I know this can be a vanity issue for some of us. We don’t think we look good on camera, so we turn the camera on only because it’s expected. Speaking as a lifetime member of the Introvert Club, I get it. But as a fellow coworker and introvert said to me, “Preparedness is the best medicine for nerves, so it all began with a simple thought, ‘If I upgrade my webcam, maybe I’ll feel more confident on camera.’” For him it started with a camera that’s popular with content creators. That lead to research on lighting and then what elements were in view of the camera frame. After that came the audio. He now has the best looking and sounding rig in the entire company. Plus, he and his wife started doing podcasts! He’s not even in the Pro AV division, he’s in IT. I might have the edge on him on the audio side, but he absolutely smokes me on the video side.

Lesson: If your IT person looks and sounds better than you, you seriously need to up your game.

Remind yourself that we are in Professional AV and more importantly, that we are in a relationship business. You wouldn’t visit your client in person knowing that you had bad breath so why are you practicing virtual bad breath with every video call?

Camera, lights, microphone and look up the “Rule of Thirds” for subject framing. It’s a “system” not unlike all the various components we put together for a client’s “system”. While it may be on a smaller scale it should be no less professional than the experience we’re promoting.

While we would love to work with you on your next $100K project, we’re no less interested in helping you look more professional on a personal level. This is the AV industry – we’re all in this together.

If you enjoyed this blog, check out Tom’s “Choose Quality AV” blog for more insights.

Tom Kehr
About the Author

Tom Kehr

CTS-D, CTS-I, Network+, LEED Green Associate, ISF-C, ATD Master Trainer

In-House System Designer and Trainer

Supported Applications: System Design

CTS or Bust

by | Feb 4, 2025 | Professional Development, Uncategorized

My journey to CTS certification.

At heart, I am a salesperson.  My technology career started in sales. I sold everything from tele/web conferencing to video conferencing and peripherals. I managed sales teams for years. I knew HOW to sell. I knew how to manage a successful sales team. I knew WHY the services or products were a great solution. I understood the end game. But I did not know exactly how everything worked. I certainly did not know how to install anything that was not simple plug & play. I was not one to troubleshoot or support the technology. I relied on engineers and technical experts to handle the deep dive into the technology. (I still need them; don’t get me wrong. But I am surprised at what I now know.)

CTS CertificationFast forward, I joined the world of Pro AV distribution.  My role as a Category Manager for Collaboration entails many “parts” so to speak. Meaning, it’s part sales, technical knowledge, marketing and more.  When I joined Exertis Almo 11 years ago, there was so much chatter around “CTS”.  That chatter became louder with each passing year.  I just did not think I needed it.   After much debate with myself (mostly because I did not have faith in passing), I became determined to achieve this goal. Knowing I would most likely stay in the PRO AV industry and realizing this certification would benefit my career in various ways (like seeking a promotion), I decided it was indeed a MUST HAVE. Therefore, my biggest goal for 2024 was to attain this badge of honor.  I blocked time off on my calendar on a regular basis just to study.  I turned my daily interactions into learning sessions; truly grasping PRO AV knowledge.  Much of what I did on the daily fed into a learning path for CTS.

Well, folks, it’s an excellent achievement and I most certainly feel I have more to offer now that I have my CTS certification.  I am amazed at what I learned over the last several months.  Studying for this exam has improved my knowledge of the PRO AV technology world much more than I ever thought possible. For those afraid to embark on this adventure, I give you hope – and TIPS!

When I first opened the CTS Exam Guide, I scanned a couple of pages and said “Nope, not for me”.  (I did this more than once.)  Then I got serious.  I accepted the challenge.  AND it was no easy task.  Start your journey! And be glad you did.

There are many ways to study and no right or wrong way.  I primarily relied on the book for my first attempt.  Oh yeah, I did not pass the test on my first try.  This is a normal occurrence for plenty of people.  Do not get discouraged.  Take a hiatus, then dive back in, perhaps with a different approach (or slightly tweaked method).

Below are some study tips.Studying

  1. Learn how you study best. The BOOK (CTS Edition 3) is definitely key. Read it.  Perhaps read it again.
    • Do the quizzes at the end of each chapter.
    • Highlight areas you need to return to or that stand out.
  2. Online flashcards from a trusted resource are easy to find.  Use them.
  3. AVIXA Practice Exam. I feel the practice exam is a bit easier than the actual test, nevertheless, incredibly beneficial.  Take it more than once! Give yourself a little time between each attempt.
  4. Take notes. If you write something down, you are more inclined to remember it.   I had a notebook dedicated to my CTS studies.  It turned into a great study guide for reference.  My own Cliff Notes (if you remember those).
  5. AVIXA has CTS prep videos on YouTube.  Most of them are short and concise.
  6. There are math problems!  Many are simple – like calculating the square footage or volume of a room.  Others are a little more involved.  My tests did not have a plethora of math problems, but I did use their calculator 5-6 times on the test I passed.  Study the math problems!
  7. Read the questions thoroughly; more than once. You will most likely see “what is the BEST answer” or” FIRST STEP”.  It is important to note every single word.
  8. ADVICE: Schedule your exam. It is too easy to delay study time when the test is not scheduled.  Do not plan on cramming.  Give yourself time. I needed months.

What to expect.

AVIXA logoWhile I had read AVIXA’s and Pearson’s (the testing center) details on what to expect, I was a bit verklempt when I first arrived at the testing facility. You may not wear a jacket inside nor a cap nor jewelry.  In fact, I had to leave my wedding ring in a locker, along with my keys, phone etc.  No hair ties or clips.  Empty your pockets.  Expect to roll up your sleeves and do your own pat down.  Don’t get frazzled.  This is standard practice.  Do not take a calculator.  One will be provided for you along with a dry erase marker and sheet. You need two forms of identification.  ie, passport and driver’s license.

You must do the prep work.  Have a positive attitude.  Try various forms of study.  Show up well rested for the exam.  Take some deep breaths and do your best.  Once you complete the exam, you should have plenty of time to review all of it OR the questions you flagged.

While the exam is offered by proctor from the comfort of your home, I attempted to do this but had issues entering the exam.  IN addition, you must have a VERY bare room void of almost everything with complete privacy and no interruptions.  Going to a Pearson testing facility seems to be what most prefer.

Passing this exam was in part a relief, a weight off my shoulders.  But I was also elated.  I DID IT – and I bragged about it.  LOL.  I walked into that testing facility with a mix of emotions (fear, anxiety, worry, you name it) but I had built up my confidence somewhat during my studies.  I walked out feeling excited, accomplished and ridiculously pleased with myself. My confidence level took another boost!

Why get your CTS?

It demonstrates a level of expertise in the Audio Video industry.  It WILL better your knowledge! It is indeed a commitment to your field giving you more credibility.  PLUS it makes you more marketable!….  I mean for those of you who might be looking for a new career opportunity.  NOT me, Exertis Almo.  I will be here forever.

Curious about Collaboration Solutions? Check out “AI – The Sincerest Form of Flattery? “

Lisa Lingo, BDM

About the Author

Lisa Lingo

Category Manager – Collaboration

Supported Product Category: Collaboration

Pin It on Pinterest