WHAT IS the BEST smart home system FOR YOUr home?
There are several smart home systems available on the market, each with its own unique features and benefits. Our team at Acoustic Pixel can work with you to select the best way forward for your home. We will discuss your requirements and choose the best solution. Here are some of the best smart home systems currently available:
Control4: Control4 is a comprehensive home automation system that allows you to control all aspects of your home, including lighting, audio/video, security, and climate control. It offers a wide range of customizable options and can be integrated with other systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Control4 offers impressive capability for you to create your own automations too!Â
Savant: Savant is a high-end home automation system that offers advanced customization and control options. It is particularly popular in luxury homes and can be used to control everything from lighting to home theater systems. Its user interface is particularly beautiful!
KNX: When we create a smart home infrastructure for a new build, we build it using a KNX backbone. Read more about KNX here!
Lutron: Lutron is a popular smart home system that specializes in lighting control. It offers a range of lighting solutions, including motorized shades and blinds, and can be integrated with other systems like Nest and Sonos.
Nest/Hive: These are smart home system that focuses on climate control and energy management. They offer a range of products, including smart thermostats and smoke detectors, and can be controlled through a smartphone app or voice commands.
Samsung SmartThings/Google Homekit: These are more ‘off the shelf’ systems that don’t require a smart home professional (though we think that a smart home professional can make everything work much better!) Either way, you can integrate a range of devices, including lighting, security systems, and smart appliances. They are compatible with a wide range of devices and can be controlled through a smartphone app or voice commands. Useful in retrofit and where budget is a primary consideration.
Ultimately, the best smart home system for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It’s important to do your research and consider factors like ease of use, compatibility with existing devices, and cost when choosing a smart home system.
1. control4
Customizable scenes: With Control4, you can create customized scenes that adjust multiple lights to specific levels to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. For example, you can create a “dinner party” scene that dims the lights and sets the dining room table lights to a warm glow.
Energy efficiency: Control4 lighting can help you save energy and reduce your electricity bills by automatically adjusting lighting based on occupancy and time of day. For example, lights can be set to turn off automatically when a room is unoccupied or dimmed during daylight hours.
Personalized control: Control4 lighting can be controlled through a variety of devices, including wall switches, mobile devices, touch screens, and voice commands. You can also set up custom schedules and preferences for each room in your home.
Integration with other systems: Control4 lighting can be integrated with other Control4 systems, such as security and climate control, to create a truly comprehensive home automation experience.
Remote access: With Control4, you can control your home’s lighting from anywhere in the world using the Control4 mobile app. This can provide additional security and convenience when you’re away from home.
2. savant
On the face of it Savant offers very similar features to Control4. While Savant has the edge in terms of a beautiful user interface, Control4 can be slightly cheaper overall while giving you more customisation options after the installation is complete. It can come down to a personal choice and our team will let you test out which suits you better!
3. knx
KNX is often the backbone of our smart home installations and Savant or Control4 systems often ‘sit on top’ of this infrastructure.Â
KNX is a communication protocol and system used for home and building automation. It is a worldwide standard for home automation and building control systems, and is used in residential and commercial buildings to control lighting, heating, ventilation, security systems, and other devices.
KNX is a decentralized system, which means that individual devices communicate with each other without the need for a central controller. This allows for a high degree of flexibility and customization in building automation, and makes it easy to add new devices or change the configuration of the system.
KNX devices can be controlled through a range of interfaces, including smartphones, tablets, touchscreens, and remote controls. It is robust and proven, so we would always recommend it where possible!
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4. lutron
Lutron is a well established brand that specializes in lighting control and shading systems for homes and commercial buildings. It can be used as a stand alone solution on retrofit or new build properties or as part of a wider smart home system. Lutron have a beautiful range of shading solutions and their wireless technology is among the best in the market. We tend to utilise Lutron systems (RA2 Select) on established properties that aren’t being rewired – it means the installations can be done quickly and with minimal disruption. Here are some of the benefits that a Lutron system might give:
Energy efficiency: Lutron lighting control systems are designed to help you save energy by automatically turning off lights when they are not needed. This can help reduce your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint.
Convenience and comfort: Lutron lighting control systems allow you to control your lights with ease using a smartphone app, remote control, or voice commands. This can make it easy to adjust the lighting in your home to create the perfect ambiance and set the mood for different activities.
Customization: Lutron lighting control systems can be customized to meet your specific needs, whether you want to control a single room or your entire home. You can choose from a range of products, including dimmers, switches, and motorized shades, and create a custom lighting plan that works for you.
Increased security: Lutron lighting control systems can be programmed to turn lights on and off at specific times, which can make it look like someone is home even when you are away. This can help deter burglars and increase the security of your home.
Potential Health benefits: Lutron lighting control systems can be used to create a circadian rhythm lighting plan, which mimics natural daylight patterns and can help regulate your body’s internal clock. This can improve your sleep quality and overall health.
5. nest / hive
Nest and Hive (and other similar products) tend to focus on energy management. They are part a rapidly growing eco system of smart devices that are relatively cheap, easy to install and simple to set up. They offer very nice user interfaces and can be a very good introduction into the benefits of a smart home system. We find lots of customers have some experience of these types of systems, who then contact Acoustic Pixel to add additional elements to their smart home (lighting, security, entertainment etc). These smart products can form part of a very effective smart home system when brought into a wider control system.
6. Samsung smart things / google homekit
With the rise in popularity of smart home devices, many technology companies have created eco systems that bring an assortment of these products together. They allow a level of interaction between various systems and give the user some useful functionality when controlling their house. For an entry into smart home control (particularly on retrofit projects), these types of systems can be very appealing. Our team can explore the possibilities and explain the limitations.
