Testimonials

Really, just about everything I want to say about InTune now, I penned in my review of InTune 10 years ago, which was also about 10 years after I had originally contracted with them to provide the Sound, Security, Automation/Integration for my Canada home.  Yes, I’ve known/experienced InTune now for about twenty years.  Crazy!  When you read that review (click here), you’ll understand why it was a no-brainer to again chose InTune for my next project:  i.e., for my home in San Diego.

My home in San Diego and my home in Canada (Crescendo) are not at all similar.

- Crescendo is in Canada; My San Diego, well, is in the US (California).

- Crescendo is a World Class home.  My San Diego home, in comparison, is a hovel.

- Crescendo is 5200 sq ft with 30 ft floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the ski slope.  My San Diego home is less than 2500 sq ft, and we’re lucky if any of our ceilings exceed 8 feet.  OK, we do have a 270 o view of the ocean and of Sea World, but to afford that view we’re directly under the flight path of San Diego International Airport. 

- Crescendo was designed and built as an executive rental for those who want to indulge in luxury.  My home in San Diego more than fifty years old, so the automation/integration was a retrofit to meet my family’s daily needs and our relatively simple lifestyle.

- To automate/integrate Crescendo, then, InTune basically had an open checkbook.  To automate/integrate my San Diego home, Andy and Amanda had to deal with Mr. Scrouge. 

The latter point, too, is yet another posture that sets InTune apart from the other integrators.  Andy and Amanda actually listen to their clients:  their wants, their needs, and their budget.  What a novel concept!?!  Their company is not one-size-fits-all, and there is no requisite for their client to be among the financially privileged.

Regardless, I absolutely love our systems at our San Diego home, which are  all brought together via a single Savant app.  What can we do with that single app?  Everything!  Our lighting, music, security, cameras, doors, and pool!  What about thermostats?  Hey, it’s San Diego.  We can count on one hand the times we turn on heat or A/C, but the app can control those as well.

Although pretty much everything can be controlled by voice, the Savant Remotes are pretty sweet, too.  Really, Savant thought of everything.  The rechargeable base is weighted (won’t knock over), the remote alights when picked up (don’t you hate having to turn on your mobile phone’s flashlight to see a remote’s buttons), and the contemporary design is extremely stylish (yes, it’s bitchin).

So, what’s changed since my last review 10 years ago?  Technology, of course, but not much else.  I can still be a pain in the ass, as the professionalism that I expect and the immediate personal touch that I demand continues to be exceptionally high.  For that reason, too, my bottom line is the same as it was ten years ago.  Go with InTune.  You won't be disappointed.

- Dr. Mitch Perlman, Crescendo's owner

My, not so brief, review ...

Crescendo, is my Dream Home come true:  a Dream Home that I began to conceptualize when I was only 5 years old.  By age 13, I had become an audiophile.  My 10 x 10 bedroom boasted a Dual 1219B turntable, a Teac Reel-to-Reel, a Marantz amp, and Altec Lansing Voice of Theatre speakers (Horn & 15” woofer) on either side of my bed.  Oh yeah, the room also housed my Hammond B-3 organ & Leslie speaker (I’m practically carbon-dating myself, I know).  Needless-to-say, then, when I was ready to break ground on Crescendo, I had thoroughly vetted the company to which I’d award Crescendo’s Sound, Security, and Automation contract.  That company?  InTune Sound & Security.  Why?  Well, read on …

Passing my vetting process was no small matter:  especially since, from its inception, Crescendo was to be a fully-automated home.  I needed a company that was willing

- to hear what I wanted,

- to understand what I needed,

- to help me to realistically balance my wants with my needs,

- to direct me to equipment choices, and

- to help me to understand the possible consequences to me (positive and negative) of each of those equipment choices.

InTune fit that bill.

Speaking of equipment choices, in that, InTune exceeded my expectations.  I wasn’t presented with a product line based upon their profit margin, and my equipment choices were not limited to their stock on hand.  Hell, I wasn’t even limited to equipment manufacturers for whom InTune had already become a Vendor.  Ultimately, for example, I chose an automation manufacturer for which InTune had no active relationship.   InTune, though, promptly filed the necessary paperwork and signed up for their mandatory pre-approval  training .  For Crescendo’s primary automation control (Vantage Controls), in fact, Dealership approval meant that Andy and Amanda had to attend a five- to seven-day workshop series in California.

Before finalizing with any company, though, I had to be certain my contact person could communicate effectively, efficiently, and quickly.  Response time and response quality were key for me, as I live in San Diego (California) but the vacation home I was building was on a Ski Resort in British Columbia (Big White, just outside Kelowna).  Worse, I have little tolerance for inefficiency.  I won’t waste my time trying to hunt someone down.  I expect phone calls (and especially emails or texts) to be returned within a reasonable timeframe.  My definition of reasonable timeframe, too, is rather short.  Well, maybe, very short.  Ok, extremely short, and yes, I can be a pain in the ass.  Not surprisingly, then, few professionals could meet my criteria:  especially in Kelowna, which is certainly not a Metropolis teaming with multiple professionals tripping over themselves vying for one’s business.  Fortunately for me, then, InTune was unphased by my unique needs.

I don’t even want to think about, let alone write about, just how much service-oriented professionals can whine about having to drive to Big White.  Not only do many put service calls to Big White on the back-burner, but when they do grace Big White with their presence, they tack on an extra charge for their inconvenience.  I can accept one or the other, but not both.  That is, I’m willing to pay big bucks for good service, but I’m not willing to pay a premium price for an economy seat.  Suffice-it-to-say, upcharges are not a part of InTune's approach. 

Speaking of price, the quote I received from InTune was not the lowest.  Conversely, it was also not the highest.  Amazingly, though, they held to their quote throughout the entire build, which was no small feat, as from Building Permit to Occupancy Permit took six loooooong years.  Remember, too, Crescendo is a fully automated SmartHome, so we’re talking about electronics and technology.  Think in terms of dog years, too, when pondering the longevity/utility of electronics.  During the six-year build, technology was a rapidly moving target.  As such, much of the equipment we had initially spec’d, was not the equipment we ended up with on opening day.

More than ten years have passed since opening day.  After experiencing Andy’s work, his work ethic, and his availability to service Crescendo whenever the need has arisen, it's been obvious to me that I made the right choice with InTune (if only my stock picks were made half as judiciously).  Regarding the latter (InTune, not my stock portfolio), Crescendo rents for up to $4k/per night, so when a system goes down (more like, when a guest mucks things up) it needs to be brought back online rather quickly, else I’m giving bucks back to guests.  When I’ve needed to get hold of Andy right away, he has  always made himself available.  I've never had to compensate a guest for any of our systems being inoperable during their stay.

What more can I say?  Oh, I know.  Really, this last point should actually be first.  Simply stated, Andy and his wife, Amanda, are just really great people.  They are genuine, warm, very fun to work with, and extremely honorable.  That they bring those attributes to their company and to the way they conduct their daily business, then, is not at all surprising.  Go with InTune.  You won’t be disappointed.

- Dr. Mitch Perlman, Crescendo's owner
www.SkiCrescendo.com

IN TUNE is precisely what they are, to your needs and industry options that best match your requirements. 

They took the time to understand our unique individual needs and technical abilities for both my home or commercial installations.   Ensuring we received the latest in home automation, network security, Sonos sound system, Speakers, CCTV video surveillance monitoring, lighting & security systems that exceeded our expectations with extremely easy adaptation and next to zero maintenance.    

Over the years we have found them to be extremely responsive to any questions or technical support. 

We would absolutely recommend you choose INTUNE for your next home or business project.

- J. Charney