If you step in to a kitchen inside of a restaurant you’ll notice that the appliances probably look a lot different from the ones in your kitchen at home. The huge refrigerators, large ovens, stoves, and sinks all serve a very distinct purpose; to prepare massive amounts of meals on a daily basis. Now this would probably be overkill at your house, but allows a business like a restaurant to perform at the level it requires. And vice versa, a full-scale restaurant couldn’t operate with a single oven, normal refrigerator, and a microwave. The same is true when it comes to audio and video equipment for your home and your business.
The equipment used in each application is designed for specific purposes. Commercial integrations are designed to meet specific performance objectives. Residential platforms are designed for entertainment and smaller scale uses. Beyond the equipment, the design, installation, and integration are also different. The scope of a commercial project goes far beyond what is required for home entertainment; that is why experience, expertise, and strategy are so important in order to meet the needs of the space.
Audio / visual integration provides an enhanced level of communication and collaboration. Applying a commercial integrator’s expertise to improve your day-to-day experience with technology can pay dividends. However it is important to understand that there is a difference between consumer and commercial products and installation.
Commercial and Residential Audio Equipment Differences
For residential installations of audio equipment like stereos, receivers, and speakers it is easy to pinpoint the direction the sound needs to travel for the listener to receive it. This is much more difficult in a commercial setting as there will be more participants in a larger space that need to be able to clearly hear what is being communicated. Commercial equipment is designed to be monaural instead of stereo to present a better sound to everyone. There is also the challenge of noise cancellation and microphone placement in boardrooms, conference rooms, and other workspaces. Consumer products also feature such elements as two-channel sound, IR remotes, and busy control panels. These are not necessary, or ideal, in a business setting. Commercial equipment is designed to be monaural instead of stereo to present a better sound to everyone.
Commercial and Residential Video Equipment Differences
While large flat panel televisions can complete any man cave or home theater, they may not always be the best option for commercial use. In most cases any TV you can pick up off the rack at the store won’t offer the performance necessary in a workspace. Many commercial models offer added technological features like touchscreen capabilities, remote casting, cameras, recording, and more. Also, depending on the size and configuration of the space, a projector may be better than a flat panel display; these are all considerations that qualified commercial integration will take into account.
Technology can make any operation run more smoothly, but only if it is the right technology and it is installed and managed correctly. Link Integration Group designs, installs, services, and manages AV technology and automation for businesses , organizations, and state agencies across Louisiana.
