Here’s a “compare and contrast” experiment, an A/B test that illustrates the differences between two different AV setups:

Find a movie, a show, or a sporting event on a television that’s hardwired into some kind of video system — say, an old-fashioned cable TV service or, better yet, a distributed video network like a Crestron DM NVX® AV-over-IP technology solution.

Now have a look at the same program on a “smart” TV connected to Wi-Fi® wireless technology.

The latter experience will likely have some limitations or potential issues. While they’re convenient, some negatives can outweigh the positives. Smart TVs can vary in performance, sometimes buffering apps or offering less-than-desirable image and sound quality. Many built-in apps compress video and audio signals; they can’t handle true surround formats, and they often bring annoyances like seemingly constant, multiple password logins and different interfaces. And for the homeowner with multiple smart TVs, repeating that login process for each display can become tiresome very quickly.

Residential viewing habits have changed — all while client expectations have increased. Many households now use streaming apps more than traditional content sources, but that doesn’t eliminate the desire for a premium experience. People want every room to feel like a media room, with fast channel switching, great picture and sound, and a frictionless user experience. In short, the demand for high-quality, centralized video distribution in the home hasn’t gone away — it’s simply evolved.

The Next Step: The DM-NVX-385

As that evolution progresses, Crestron has been working on refining our distributed video offerings. In October of last year, we rolled out the DM-NVX-384, an encoder/decoder that’s scalable, flexible, efficient, and secure. It’s packed with features, including USB-C® connectivity, multi-input switching, 5K support, and much more. We built on the solution with the addition of the Multiview feature, which allows for the distribution of content from multiple sources so the user can view each image on a single display in a variety of fixed compositions.

Add to all that the fact that DM NVX AV-over-IP technology provides central control of high-quality sources (such as Apple TV® media extenders, Roku® streaming devices, cable boxes, and all the others) with better reliability and resolution, and you’ve got technology that’s perfect for residential applications. Crestron DM NVX AV-over-IP solutions are ideal for whole-home AV, as they feature extremely low latency, 4K60 video, and synchronized, multi-zone audio/video routing.

All of that’s built into the DM-NVX-385, but this encoder/decoder takes distributed video for the home to a completely new level. The DM-NVX-385 brings new audio capabilities to the Crestron smart home, like 7.1 surround sound with downmixing, Dolby Atmos® MAT 2.0 format support (even while downmixing), DTS:X® codec support, and simultaneous stereo and multichannel distribution, including height channels. It’s perfect for home theaters, listening rooms, and everyday zones alike.