Daniel J SaitInvision is now shipping Pulse-Eight’s flagship neo:8a HDMI flagship fixed format 8×10 HDBaseT matrix, featuring added audio breakout functionality and eight HDBaseT 70m Class B PoH receivers.
The new neo:8a builds on the success of the neo:8 but features the added benefit of a dedicated audio breakout from each HDMI source at no additional cost. It is a suitable solution for extending into audio distribution and amplifier products. Supporting HDBaseT Class B, the neo:8a can extend 4K up to 40m and 1080p up to 70m.
The neo:8a features CEC to allow the control of all devices (Sky, Blu-Ray Player, Apple TV etc) from the original TV remote control. Gone are the days of five remote controls in one room and there is now no need to buy any additional hardware such as universal remotes. Most TVs support CEC, and using its own libCEC, Pulse-Eight has baked the technology into the system. The matrix will route video automatically, even if the source does not support CEC itself.
Historically, matrixes have offered remotes with 8 or 16 buttons, requiring multiple presses to get video to the TV being watched. Pulse-Eight thought this was an odd scenario given the user already knows which room they are in and, therefore, so should the matrix. Pulse-Eight’s designers eliminated this old concept and created Contextual IR – this reduces the number of buttons to just eight – one for each possible input. This allows the user to select the output number and watch the chosen source, instantly, whatever room they are in.
Pulse-Eight has configured the neo:8a to allow access from any device, be it mobile, tablet or desktop PC, and in any browser. With the neo Alexa skill enabled on an Amazon Echo or Dot, voice control can be used to turn a TV on or off, or to switch source devices. And, to ensure perfect operation, Pulse-Eight remotely monitors the system to guarantee perfect troubleshooting.