CE Pro July 2022 - 28

CE PROFILE
Audio Breakthroughs
This Audio Breathroughs'
NYC Turtle Bay Apartment
project utilizes
Lutron Homeworks
lighting and shades. The
main theater is a large
OLED HDTV with Artison
side speakers, KEF onwall
rears and a hidden
JL Audio subwoofer. The
master bedroom system is
unique, including a Nexus
21 TV lift and Lutron dual
roller shades. The blackout
shades have a side
channel to offer no light
leakage.
That's not to say Audio Breakthroughs
never turns down jobs. " Although it may seem
counterintuitive, saying 'no' can be the best
decision. Many automation projects are long
term endeavors, a commitment to work with
the contractor and client for years. If you don't
feel good about working together it might be
best to not get involved. Poor projects can
derail operations causing you to lose focus on
your business and more significant clients. "
Another misguided notion in the home systems
industry, according to Spencer, is that
clients dislike being upsold. The company has
capitalized on its sales savvy and hard-earned
reputation to confidently steer customers
toward better solutions.
" Just because a client says he isn't an
audiophile doesn't mean he wants bottomof-the-line
speakers. Nor does a client's
request for a simple automation system mean
you should skimp on aesthetics, " he suggests.
" We are continually surprised at how often
projects grow simply by presenting customers
with better options. "
Traditional Processes
with a Modern Twist
The near-50-year evolution of Audio Breakthroughs
touches the back-end of the business,
as well. Modern software, systems, and
procedures have long replaced hand-written
quotes, contracts, change orders and other
documentation.
" Portal was a game-changer for us, " says
Spencer. " We can put together good, better,
best options to review together with our
clients and make changes to the design and
budget on the fly that they can see in real-time. "
Spencer refers to Portal to compare
elements of winning proposals against the
proposals of less successful jobs. The analysis
allows Audio Breakthroughs to better
determine what works and what doesn't, and
replicate winning templates for future bids.
Design documents, meanwhile, are hanCRAFTING
& CURATING
COMPELLING SOLUTIONS
Although its product offerings are wide as a result of the company's
diversification over the years, Audio Breakthroughs' selection process is
laser-focused.
" We look for unique solutions with compelling features and benefits, "
explains Spencer Clark. " We are constantly exploring the market, testing
products, and refining our portfolio to offer our customers features and
benefits they may not find elsewhere. "
Two examples, he cites, are Anthem's ARC (Anthem Room Correction)
calibration system and Lutron's Palladiom keypad and motorized shading
solution. Through ARC, Audio Breakthroughs is able to enhance the
performance of customers' home theaters by fine-tuning the audio. Using
Lutron's Palladiom components, meanwhile, gives them an edge in terms
of aesthetics as customers seek more design-friendly offerings.
28 | CE Pro July 2022
dled largely by Bluebeam. Used mostly by
construction contractors, it allows Audio
Breakthroughs to collaborate easily with
builders, architects, and designers. " It's been
particularly helpful to us for lighting plans.
Our installers and contractors can all work off
the same document and use an iPad app to
modify designs, " Spencer says.
As for customer service, Bruce and Spencer
enjoy fielding occasional phone calls to maintain
personal contact with clients, but thanks
to Snap One's OvrC cloud-based remote
management platform, they are no longer tied
to phone as they were 15 years ago.
" Before implementing OvrC, service was a
nightmare, " Spencer recollects. " We were on
the phone dealing with questions and issues
and rolling trucks to homes to fix what usually
boiled down to resetting a cable box. Being
able to troubleshoot remotely has allowed us
to scale up or business without having to add
more staff. "
Also key to helping the company meet its
own high level of expectations is keeping
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CE Pro July 2022

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