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JUAN VIDAL PHOTOGRAPHY
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JUAN VIDAL PHOTOGRAPHY
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JUAN VIDAL PHOTOGRAPHY
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JUAN VIDAL PHOTOGRAPHY
By Chrysa Smith
Every so often you feel it. Bathed in the perfect light. Surrounded by the perfect sounds. It’s magic—where senses are heightened, and shoulders relax. For me those moments are golden. And that feeling, those sensations can now last indefinitely. Because in virtually every room of your home, your favorite conditions, sounds, lighting, security, can be created and controlled through your phone, a tablet, remote or pad.
Ron Rumer, Chief Regional Sales Director of World Wide Stereo in Wayne, showed me their products and just how capable they are at making your home the true sanctuary it can be. Ron has been with World Wide Stereo since the beginning. Fresh out of school in 1979, he began installing car stereos—back when good audio was an option rather than standard. He grew with the company over the past 40+ years, as technology changed from turntables to cassettes and 8-track to flat screen tv’s, computer-programmed systems, back to turntables and now—Smart Homes. From window shades, sound systems and lighting to in-home conferencing centers and home theaters—it can all be created and controlled through their automation systems.
According to Ron, “Our experience center has 22 immersive experiences. Our business is constantly changing, and with every job we continue to improve. It’s all about experience.” Yes, World Wide sells products. But it’s ultimately what that audio system, that tv viewing configuration, that dimmed lighting system can produce in the home. Whether it’s a sense of peace and wellbeing, a party environment or outdoor relaxation space, there are products to create it and World Wide to back it.
Each week there are manufacturer training sessions for their sales and system design teams—meetings intended to keep up on the latest technology and ensure a seamless working environment. A client interview begins the process, along with a bit of education on the spectrum of possibilities. Ron says, “When a customer walks through the door, we ask them what they want to achieve. We must really listen well.” It might be something as simple as a high-end pair of headphones, or a completely immersive home theater with a dozen invisible speakers (installed flush into drywall, covered with a thin layer of plaster and painted or even papered over. Once concealed, the speakers can disperse sound throughout the room), Atmos 9.4.4 sound, 150” screen, acoustic panels behind the fabric on the walls for sound clarity, the controllers and even the incredibly comfortable seating to go with it. The sound was second-to-none, as I watched perfectly pitched singing and stomping of feet feel so realistic, it seemed The Greatest Showman was live, and I was in the arena face-to-face with Hugh Jackman.
But that’s just one of the immersive experiences. In their kitchen area, a variety of lighting comes together for the most common purposes. Task lighting, overhead, pendants, and under cabinet, both at eye level and at the cabinet base creates beautiful illumination both for utility and as design elements. Full color spectrum features can adjust both color temperature and intensity throughout the day—even mimicking the light rhythm of the day. Yes, it’s all there.
Vinyl fans and sound purists will appreciate the sound room, lined with an array of both American and European-made audio speakers and amps at a variety of price points And a shelf of turntables starting at $150. Ron says they will configure a room to your liking. And that’s exactly what they did for Ryan Conrath. A lifetime music lover, and long-time city dweller, Ryan envisioned a day when he’d be able to create his own sound room. When he purchased his present home, one of the first things he did was select the room, then talk to World Wide Stereo. “They asked lots of questions. What kind of music do you listen to? They invited me into the sound room—went through a variety of speakers. They said we want you to hear a lot of stuff. The whole way, it was white glove experience. No pressure.”
Ryan says he’s in his sound room, pretty much daily. “Sometimes I’m in there three or more hours,” listening to a variety of vinyl blues, jazz and rock on his combination of European and American components, with his acoustically treated draperies and walls for optimal sound quality. Ryan began capturing his experience in an Instagram account and invites others to check out both his and others’ experiences at www.instagram.com/thecrons_cavern.
World Wide Stereo currently maintains two locations—the experience center showroom on Lancaster Avenue in Wayne, and a showroom, with listening rooms and similar experiences, on Rt. 309 in Montgomeryville. According to Ron, “There are customers making a substantial investment in their equipment, and they should have the full quality and experience possible.” That’s one reason they maintain 24/7, 365 days a year operational and technical support. Ron’s known for answering texts from home, going out on a jobsite, loading trucks—whatever it takes to provide the best customer service.
And it doesn’t stop in the inner corners of the home. Outdoor sound systems, surveillance, tv monitors—they do it all. The possibilities seem endless, as do the number of contractors, interior designers, architects and homeowners who work with them. I ended my visit with a sound test in their simulated family room. Roni Ben-David, Business Development Manager & System Designer, turned on a Celine Dion/Barbara Streisand mix. I closed my eyes, heard every note and fully understood the importance of selling a luxury home experience. Magic, indeed.
World Wide Stereo is located at 218 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA; 610-649-7002. The Montgomery Showroom is located at 754 Route 309, Montgomeryville, PA; 215-368-8343. For more information, visit www.worldwidestereo.com.
Chrysa Smith is the Style Columnist who believes, with a background and husband in the theater product business, this was the perfect story to cover.