The new audio/video receivers from Anthem

The new Anthem audio/video surround receivers are now available here at hear.more.music.  If you are looking for top-of-the-line audiophile sound performance in a one-box receiver that easily powers any quality speaker system you should consider Anthem.


Merry Christmas from hear.more.music.

A huge thank you to all of our customers, friends and family for your business, support and referrals this year.  We rely heavily on word-of-mouth references and you have been very good to us in 2013.  To all, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Using the Sonos Play:1 as a surround sound speaker

Sonos' Play:1 speaker can be used as surround speakers for a complete @Sonos 5.1 system along with their Playbar and SUBwoofer. Yesterday our installation manager created something from nothing at this clients home. He ran the power wire to the proper positions, installed the AC box and plate, then set the speakers into place.  Call us to see how we can install a great system in your home too.


Christmas Music Playlists On Songza and Sonos

Looking for some new variations of those Christmas songs that you've been hearing for years?  Check out these playlists from Songza, all easily available to stream on your Sonos system.  Merry Christmas!

Songza has 72 unique Christmas playlists for every kind of holiday celebration. Find them all in their Concierge or choose from one of these:

11 Incredibly Fun Holiday Playlists

1. The Biggest Christmas Songs of All Time
Recommended If You Like: Getting into the Christmas spirit, the smell of Christmas trees.

2. All I Want for Christmas Is Pop!
RIYL: Mariah, Beyoncé, dancing around the Christmas tree.

3. Acoustic Guitar Christmas
RIYL: A quiet and reflective Christmas, sitting by the fire.

4. Modern Country Christmas Hits
RIYL: Celebrating Christmas in cowboy boots.

5. Teen Pop Christmas
RIYL: The Justins (Bieber and Timberlake), the Spice Girls and spiced lattes.

6. The Coolest Christmas Songs of All Time
RIYL: Getting vinyl for Christmas.

7. A Cosby Sweater Christmas
RIYL: Coogi sweaters and R&B.

8. Yuletide Swing
RIYL: Eggnog cocktails, finger snapping, bow ties.

9. Christmas at the Movies
RIYL: Home Alone, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, Home Alone 2.

10. A White Sand Christmas
RIYL: Celebrating Christmas in a bikini or board shorts.

11. Merry Indie Christmas!
RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, getting books for Christmas.


Enjoy music outside even during the winter.

This week we completed another 'outdoor audio' installation for a client's back deck hot tub location.  We installed a pair of quality Paradigm 'Stylus' outdoor weather-resistant speakers so they can enjoy their choice of music while soaking away.  The Sonos amplifier that drives the speakers is located safely inside their home.  Imagine listening to your favorite Pandora channel, a radio station from Iceland (no pun intended #1) or MOG, Spotify, etc. Very cool (no pun intended #2).  Control it all from your wireless device, smartphone, Kindle, iPad, etc.

What is a Sonos CONNECT:AMP?


CONNECT:AMP - Sonos and hear.more.music. 
The Connect:Amp is designed to connect to a pair of free standing, bookshelf, in-wall or in-ceiling speakers. With a potent 2-channel power amplifier the Connect:Amp works perfectly with speaker systems of all varieties.
  click for a larger image
 
Connect:Amp also features a subwoofer output. When another manufacturers subwoofer is plugged in, an 85 Hz crossover in automatically activated allowing the bass to be pushed to the subwoofer and the frequencies above to the Connect:Amp increasing it's potential to provide output over the frequencies above 85 Hz. Plus Connect:Amp also has a local source input. Thanks to it's digital design, it runs very cool. Have no fear to put a crowd of these in your rack or place into furniture where heat might be a problem with other gear. 

New Update: With recent updates in Sonos Software you can now use the Connect:Amp as the rear channels on a PlayBar for surround. Simply add speakers and you're ready to go!

Give us a call at hear.more.music. to learn more about how we can install Sonos in your home or place of business.

Experience Tom Littrell's original artwork this Friday 12/6

The


Tom


Littrell


Show!

 
Our friend and interior designer, Tom Littrell, is also an artist who is passionate about Rockford's arts community. Tom has tirelessly dedicated himself to supporting local artists and giving them a place to exhibit and demonstrate their work during events like ArtScene and Artists At Work at 317 Studio & Gallery.

In Tom’s temporary leave from the studio, the 317 artists have taken over, and you're invited to come view HIS remarkable body of work.

www.317studiogallery.com

Tom's staff and the artists hope you can join them!
DECEMBER
First Friday
12/6/2013
4 - 8 p.m.

Stream music in your home and outside too

Here is a nice photo that helps promote the idea of music in as many rooms in your home as you would like. Sonos offers 'powered' speakers that can simply connect to your wall's power outlet. They offer very nice sound quality with very little in the way of installation. Nice. Easy.

Also in the photo is a concept of the Sonos Playbar (their name for a soundbar), connected to your flat screen television. The companion SUB (subwoofer) gives you that deep low bass that helps add excitement to your favorite movies.  We can install the Playbar on the wall, just underneath the television. Or, if you TV rests on a cabinet or credenza the Playbar can simply set in front of the television on it's back. Don't worry, regardless of whether it is installed horizontally or vertically the Sonos internal computer pushes the music out of the nine speakers and amplifiers accordingly.  All you do is listen!

In addition, Sonos manufacturers components that can connect directly to your current stereo/home theater receiver and another that will connect to standard speakers such as from Paradigm and MartinLogan.  There are many options and each room of your home may be set up with different components, with the end result is great sounding music in each room. By the way, you can start with just one room, Sonos does not have to be in every room initially although you will probably want to add rooms as time goes by. 

There are many options and that is why hear.more.music. exists. We tailor each clients system based on your needs, wants and budget. Feel free to give us a call for an initial in-home consultation.

The extraordinary sound performance of MartinLogan loudspeakers

Folded Motion is the thin film technology that allows MartinLogan to develop products for applications where an electrostatic speaker might not be practical (because of size or placement constraints) while still delivering MartinLogan’s signature high performance sound experience.

Whether considering their bookshelf or floorstanding 'box' speakers or their electrostatics, MartinLogan offers superb sound performance. If you want the orchestra to sound as if they are in your home, consider MartinLogan.

Songza's new Thanksgiving playlists; Great music for the Holiday

Hi everyone - 

Do you use Songza's music streaming service? It has tons of free music playlists designed for all your moods, time of day and favorite holidays. This year Songza has design the playlists below for the Thanksgiving holiday.  If you have a Sonos system in your home (and outside!) there are even playlists designed for those family backyard football games. Great fun!

If you don't presently enjoy Songza give us a call and we'll help you set it up on your Sonos system or your wireless devices.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving season with your friends and family.

Doug at hear.more.music.


The following article was provided to us by our friends at Songza, an innovative music streaming and lifestyle website.

During the final days of autumn we remember myriad things we’re thankful for, including the Thanksgiving holiday itself. What’s better than the modern American tradition of taking the day off to eat turkey and pie with your family while watching football? Although it’s already a close-to-perfect holiday, we can make your Thanksgiving even better with one of our expertly-curated, family-friendly playlists.

Warm, Rich & Autumnal Music
Perfectly capturing the feeling of the fall season, these playlists will instantly put you in a Thanksgiving state of mind.

An Acoustic Thanksgiving
Warm, rootsy, acoustic music to get cozy with on Thanksgiving.

Harvest Moon
A collection of warm acoustic songs, handpicked for enjoying the crisp autumn air, fall foliage, and hot apple cider.

Home Is Where the Hearth Is
Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year. Whether you're on your way home or already there, these warm, intimate songs will help you relax and reflect at the start of the holiday onslaught.

American Campfire
A classic folk soundtrack for an after-dinner bonfire with good friends or family. Throw a log on the fire, share a blanket and pass the wine.

Vintage Cooking Music
Cooking a classic turkey dinner calls for listening to some classic music. These fun, vintage playlists will attract everyone to the kitchen.

Good Ol' Time Eatin'
These are good, old songs about food. It's the perfect upbeat soundtrack for cooking comfort food.

Lush and Plush
From World War II through the early '60s, The Golden Age of Big Band Jazz brought us some of the greatest interpreters of song, arguably ever. This velvet sound is the stuff of legend.

Easy Street, Fat City
From the foot-tapping rhythms of early R&B to the slicked-back twang of rockabilly, these vintage tunes will have you dancing in the kitchen.

Soul BBQ
Get down with these soul and R&B classics -- most of which are about food -- at your Thanksgiving barbecue.

The World of Ray Charles
Welcome to the world of Ray Charles, where you'll encounter not only monumental cuts from the man who melded blues, soul, country, jazz, and gospel into a harmonious whole, but also some titanic tracks by Brother Ray's influences, peers, and disciples.

Beautiful Dinner Music
Need some beautiful background music for your Thanksgiving dinner? One of these playlists will do the trick.

Thanksgiving Dinner Jazz
The perfect selection of classic vocal jazz and American standards for a classy Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

Classical for Autumn
A sophisticated, earthy soundtrack of classical music inspired by autumn. Listen closely and you'll hear leaves changing color.

Solo Jazz Guitar
Bring together 10 fingers, one guitar, and a head full of jazz, and a whole world will spring into view right before your very ears. Listen to these solo-guitar performances by some of the finest fretmasters ever to sling a jazz axe.

Family-friendly: Classic Hits
Playlists that the whole family can enjoy are crucial for this holiday. Try any of these classic collections of great hit songs.

Songs to Raise Your Kids To
Every kid needs to grow up with great music. These are the classic songs you should sing with (and to) your kids.

Entertaining with Soul
Entertain your guests with this collection of old school R&B, Motown, and soul, featuring the biggest names on the scene in the 1960s and '70s.

Timeless Pop/Rock Hits
Musical styles come and go, but some songs will always sound great. This collection of upbeat pop and rock songs from the '60s, '70s and '80s is perfect for the workday or the weekend.

Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Party songs for a Baby Boomer dad that can be enjoyed by mixed company, even his Millennial kids. Culled from six decades worth of music, this collection is packed with classic party-starters and plenty of worthy surprises too.

The Ultimate Oldies Party
Kick off your shoes and twist the night away to infectiously upbeat songs everyone knows by heart: the most fun rock, soul, and doo wop cuts from the '50s and '60s.

Smooth Grooves
Relax and unwind with these smooth soul and R&B songs (hand-selected by music aficionado, and NBA star, Baron Davis).

Indie Thanksgiving
You can’t always make it to Mom & Dad’s for Thanksgiving; if you’re young and producing your own Thanksgiving dinner this year, you might enjoy one of these indie or alternative playlists.

Sweater Weather
This playlist brings to mind autumn's greatest perk: sweater weather. Spend a cool, crisp day  with friends and this earthy mix of easy-going rock from the '60s to today.

At The Farmer's Market
While you're shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy a selection of indie tracks as fresh as the produce you're buying.

Indie Roots Rock
Songs by indie artists that are strongly influenced by traditional roots rock, bluegrass, and country. Rootsy and rough around the edges.

Autumn on Your Mind
Not simply songs about autumn, but alternative tunes that bear an autumnal vibe, from melancholy piano ballads to rustic folk, these songs will give you that falling-leaves-and-chilly-breeze feeling.

Family-friendly: Today’s Hits
Is your family hip to the new stuff? Then try one of these family-friendly playlists full of today’s hit songs.

Hot 100 (Clean Lyrics)
Since 1958, Billboard's Hot 100 chart has been America's barometer of song popularity. This playlist includes edited versions of the most recent additions to the Hot 100.

Today's Upbeat Country Hits
Nothing but today's upbeat and rockin' country songs. No ballads or soft stuff.

Today's Happy Pop Hits
Need a serious pick-me-up? Feeling blue? This is just what the doctor ordered. Packed with only the biggest and happiest hit songs of the past two years, this playlist will make everything better. Like, 1000x better.

Soft Pop
Enjoy the best soft and soothing pop songs from the '90s through today. The perfect soundtrack to melt away the stress of your day.

Bonus Playlist: If you’re watching football or playing two-hand touch in the yard, get pumped up with Gridiron Glory, our epic-sounding collection of scores from NFL Films and Hollywood football movies.



Get Songza On Your Sonos

Whether you are working, relaxing or entertaining, Songza streams you the right expertly-curated playlist for your mood and moment. Songza is 100% free, with no audio ads at all, and has been featured on CNN, The New York Times, TechCrunch, Mashable & NY Daily News.