Home Technology: Coming Full Circle

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has changed—and how much has stayed the same in-home technology since our business opened in 1970. The Audiohouse was strictly a stereo shop, and we sold records, home stereo receivers, turntables and speakers. The 1970s were the golden age of hi-fi stereo systems. People were excited about music, and the components had improved so you could hear your favorite songs with incredible detail right in your living room.

One of the best parts of my job in those days was giving demonstrations. We would pull a record out of its sleeve, clean it carefully, clean the stylus, drop the needle and sit back and listen. Certain records sounded especially great—Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, and others. Those systems were simple, but our clients loved them. They were blown away by the sound quality, and so were we. As technology started to change, so did our business.

By the 1990s, Vero Beach was growing rapidly. John’s Island and The Moorings were expanding fast. New communities like Orchid Island, Windsor, and Grand Harbor were being developed. With that growth came a new kind of homeowner—people building high-end custom homes, looking for more than just a stereo system. That’s really when the custom home electronics industry started to take off, and we adapted right along with it.

We went from selling audio systems to designing and installing full home technology systems. In the beginning, that meant things like multi-room audio and basic lighting control. But over the years, the list of technologies kept growing. Today, we offer a wide range of systems. Lighting control has gotten smarter and now includes circadian lighting that mimics natural light to support sleep and wellness. Automated window shades are a big part of what we do, as are whole-home Wi-Fi and networking systems. We also install home automation systems that control everything from a phone or touchscreen—lighting, sound, climate, you name it. Home theaters, outdoor audio, landscape lighting and surveillance cameras are all must have technologies for the luxury home.

The systems we install today are much more advanced than what we had in the 70s, but in many ways, they’re still doing the same thing, helping people enjoy their homes in more ways.

I feel like I have the best job in the world. For over the 50 years in the business, I have worked alongside some of the top architects, builders, and interior designers in the country. We sell absolutely the coolest products that go into a home. Our clients are wonderful people who have built and run some of the most successful companies in the world. It has been a pleasure to work with them, helping bring their homes to life with the latest technology.

We are fortunate to have a beautiful showroom where we walk homeowners, architects, and builders through different rooms and showcase the latest home technology options. We are just putting the finishing touches on our lighting loft, a room where we can demonstrate the latest lighting technologies like circadian lighting. But my favorite part of our showroom tour is always the last stop.

At this point, we will bring people into our dedicated music room where we have set up a simple but very high-quality stereo system. This room includes McIntosh amplifiers, made in Binghamton, New York, and built much the same way they were built back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. We paired this with a music streamer, a beautiful turntable, and a set of Bowers & Wilkins tower speakers—the same speakers used in Abbey Road Studios in London, and popularized by The Beatles.

First, we stream some music, pulling up almost any song or album in seconds and listen to it in recording studio quality. After this, we pull out an album, clean the surface, clean the stylus, and gently drop the needle onto the first groove. This is always a special moment; you can almost feel the presence of the artist in the room. The sound is rich and full, and the occasional pop or click of a vinyl record brings us back to our youth and college days. There’s something very real, familiar and cozy about it all.

And so, we have come full circle. We started out in 1970 by introducing people to the joys of great sound systems. Today, even with all the advancements in technology and home design, sitting down and listening to music with clients and new friends is still my very favorite part of the business.