Top Smart Home Systems: A Primer
The concept of smart homes has moved from the realm of science fiction into reality, transforming our daily lives. Today, smart home systems can control everything from lighting and security to entertainment and climate with a simple voice command or the touch of a button. Among the top contenders in the smart home market are Crestron, Savant, and Control4. These systems are the most frequently installed in SAV’s territory, and though there are several other options with their own unique benefits, these three are trusted by homeowners and integrators alike across the custom integration industry. Each of these systems offers unique features and experiences that cater to different needs and preferences. Let’s explore what each has to offer.
Crestron: Automation Simplified
Crestron is often considered the gold standard in the world of smart home systems. Known for its high level of customization, Crestron allows homeowners to tailor their home automation experience to their exact preferences. This system is ideal for those who want total control over every aspect of their home environment.
Key Features:
Customizability: Crestron’s greatest strength lies in its flexibility. Whether you want a particular lighting scene for your movie nights or a specific climate control setup for different times of the day, Crestron can make it happen.
Integration: Crestron seamlessly integrates with a vast range of third-party devices, ensuring that all your tech works together harmoniously.
Scalability: Whether you have a modest apartment or a sprawling estate, Crestron can scale to fit your needs perfectly.
User Experience:
Using Crestron is like having a personal assistant for your home. Imagine waking up in the morning, and as you step into the kitchen, the lights gradually brighten, the blinds open to let in the morning sun, and your favorite news channel starts playing on the TV. Crestron’s intuitive app and voice control make these experiences effortless, giving you more time to enjoy your home.
Savant: The Luxury Experience
Savant is synonymous with luxury and elegance in the smart home market. It’s designed for those who appreciate both high functionality and aesthetic appeal. Savant combines high-end design with sophisticated technology, making it a favorite among luxury homeowners.
Key Features:
User Interface: Savant’s user interface is sleek and intuitive, providing an easy and enjoyable control experience. The system’s app is particularly praised for its beautiful design and ease of use.
Personalization: With Savant, personalization goes beyond mere functionality. You can create ‘scenes’ that adjust multiple settings at once, such as dimming the lights, closing the blinds, and playing soft music for a perfect dinner ambiance.
Voice Control: Savant integrates smoothly with popular voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing for hands-free operation of your smart home.
User Experience:
Imagine coming home after a long day and simply saying, “Good evening” to your smart assistant. Instantly, your home responds by adjusting the lighting to a cozy setting, starting your favorite playlist, and setting the temperature just right. This seamless integration of technology into daily life makes Savant a standout choice for those who value luxury and convenience.
Control4: The Single-Room Workhorse
Control4 strikes a balance between customization, ease of use, and affordability. It’s designed to cater to a wide range of users, from tech enthusiasts to those just getting started with smart home technology. Control4 offers robust solutions that enhance convenience and security in your home. Control4 Halo Touch remotes are perfect control points for single rooms, offering a solution for home offices, media rooms, and other specific-use rooms that do well with their own control systems.
[Note: replace image with Halo Touch remote]
Key Features:
Ease of Use: Control4 is known for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy. The app provides straightforward controls for all connected devices.
Comprehensive Control: From lighting and security to entertainment and climate, Control4 allows you to manage all aspects of your home with a single system.
Accessible: Offering high functionality, Control4 is sometimes also more affordable than other systems, making it a great choice for those looking to invest in smart home technology and save some money as well.
User Experience:
Control4 makes it easy to manage your home, whether you're at home or away. Picture this: you're on vacation, and you receive an alert on your phone about unusual activity at your front door. With Control4, you can instantly view your security cameras, communicate through your smart doorbell, and even lock or unlock your doors remotely. This peace of mind is invaluable, and Control4 provides it in a user-friendly package.
Josh.ai: Voice Control Meets Privacy
Josh.ai is a relatively new player in the field of home technology control. Their unique approach lets you use natural language (“turn on all my lights”) to command and control your home, without sending out or selling your data in the process.
Key Features:
Design: Josh.ai products come in several forms, but the most elegant solution is integrated into a Lutron keypad (pictured to the right). The form factor is minimal, and comes in a wide variety of finishes.
Voice Control: As with many mainstream voice control technologies, such as Amazon’s Alexa, you can speak directly to your wall-mounted Josh.ai products. All you need to do is say “Hey Josh,” to get it’s attention, and then speak your command and Josh takes care of the rest.
Privacy: Unlike many mainstream voice control products, with Josh, your voice is not recorded and then distributed to third parties for data mining and AI training. It goes to the unit, and stops there after command is executed.
User Experience:
Josh.ai is very intuitive to use - simply say “Hey Josh,” and then follow up with a command such as “Play Fortunate Son on Tidal.” Josh will take care of the rest, quite like a butler. Josh can control most integrated technologies as well, so instead of having to move yourself physically to your touchpad or other control device, you can simply speak your commands and they will be executed.
Basalte Home: Intuitive European Elegance
Form, function, flexibility and fashion - Basalte’s products are gorgeous AND intuitive to use. Designed in Europe and aligned with the European design sensibilities, the Basalte Home control system has a unique and understated style that performs well and looks exceptional.
Key Features:
Form Factor: Basalte Home has been reduced and refined so much that the interface itself is as intuitive as the software it controls. Their technology is subtle and understated, yet captivating to look at, and can blend into any modern home while matching the style perfectly with an array of custom finishes.
Interface: Basalte Home focuses on touch, rather than press. It’s a gentler, more intuitive distinction that allows your home to feel more responsive. No force is required for interactions, and yet your commands carry through with the same results: your home is controlled through a simple intuitive interface where less is more.
Control: From a single room to a whole house, Basalte has home control solutions that extend beyond their software - their hardware ties into their overall experience of creating a seamless, luxurious experience, and looks exceptional while doing it.
User Experience:
With a sleek interface and responsive controls, Basalte Home ensures a seamless user experience. Whether you prefer to operate the system through a central hub, smartphone app, or voice commands, Basalte Home caters to your preferred mode of interaction. This allows users to monitor and manage their home environment remotely, providing convenience and peace of mind.
Overall, Basalte Home aims to streamline the management of your smart devices, offering a user-centric approach to modern living.
Conclusion
Choosing the right smart home system depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you seek unparalleled customization and scalability, Crestron is the way to go. For those who prioritize luxury and an elegant user experience, Savant stands out. And if you're looking for a balanced and user-friendly solution, Control4 is a fantastic option. A skilled and competent integrator will be able to assist you in choosing your system, or may recommend one based on your specific needs.
No matter which system you choose, integrating smart technology into your home can enhance convenience, security, and overall quality of life. Embrace the future with one of these top smart home systems and transform your living space into a connected haven.
[Note: Add in Basalte Home - Intuitive European Elegance - show keypad or app/touchpanel]
