New in 2012: A/V Upgrades

Working with our friends at Custom Audio, we've enhanced the A/V Setup at Sound Racer based on guest suggestions and our own experience. Here are the highlights:

1. Blu-Ray in the Great Room

We've added a Samsung "connected" Blu-Ray player to the upper level Great Room. The Blu-ray can also play standard DVDs. This replaced a combo DVD / VHS player -- but we figure the days of VHS are long past (although there is still a VHS player in the Rec Room).

We'll be exploring the "connected" features of the new player over the next few months.

2. Upgraded Receiver in the Great Room

The new receiver is an Onkyo Model TX-NR609. The most significant change is that this receiver passes HDMI audio and video -- in other words, true surround sound for TV and Movies. And it sounds great! This also simplifies the setup in that the TV input is now always set on HDMI-1. The receiver also has a digital USB input for your iPod / iPad, which improves sound quality.

3. Improved Remote Control in the Great Room

We're fans of the Harmony Universal Remote controls that are used with all three of the common area A/V systems at Sound Racer. But using the control in the great room required aiming it at a very specifc spot between the TV and the Receiver. To make the experience easier, we added an IR "blaster" network that connects all devices. We moved the "aim point" to the top of the TV, making it much easier to hit from just about anywhere in the room.

4. Larger TV in the Den

Last but definitely not least, we increased the size of the TV in the mid-level Den. The new Samsung 51" 1080p plasma TV has a wonderful picture and we think it is perfectly sized for movie viewing in the den.
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In addition, we replaced the receiver in the downstairs Rec Room which had some audio problems at the end of the 2011 season. And finally, the folks at Custom Audio reccomended that we tilt the Great Room monitor slightly downward to improve viewing angle and reduce glare. A small change, but we think it's a big improvement.

Happpy Holidays from Sound Racer!

We'd like to wish all of our guests a very happy holiday season. We are especially pleased that so many of you have already signed on for the 2012 season at Sound Racer. One of our goals from the beginning has been to create a home where families would return year-after-year to build vacation memories. This is the experience we had when we rented on the OBX, and we are glad to be creating a similar experience for so many of you!

Please check back in early 2012 for an update on some new enhancements we have planned. First up will be some additions to the A/V setup...

Happy New Year!

Found: One Laptop Charging Cable

We returned to Sound Racer this weekend for the annual meeting of Currituck Club property owners. As we went through the house, we found a laptop charging cable and power brick in one of the desk drawers in the Office Nook.

If the cable is yours, please send us an email at soundracerobx@gmail.com. To insure the cable goes to its proper home, please include the manufacturer, the week you were at the beach and the name on the reservation. Also include your address and we will mail the cable to you.

Goodnight, Irene

Hurricane Irene gave all of us a bit of a scare, but early word from Corolla is that the area in general and the Currituck Club fared very well. We were also fortunate (and thankful) that Currituck Club property owners who were on-site shortly after Irene organized to visit and inspect properties in the Club. We learned that Sound Racer sustained no visible exterior damage, with the only signs of the Hurricane being some debris in the yard and some "interesting things" in the pool. Below are some photos taken on Tuesday, August 29.

Welcome, 2011 Guests!

It's the beginning of the 2011 rental season and we would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our guests and especially those of you that have visited Sound Racer in prior years. We thank all of you for choosing Sound Racer, and we hope you have a wonderful vaction in the Outer Banks.

During the off-season we have been busy getting everything ready, and we have made some additions / enhancements for 2011. First, we should note that privileges at the Pine Island Beach Club will be available to all Sound Racer guests again in 2011. As long-time beach goers, we think the Pine Island Club offers a great way to access the beach very conveniently: with ample parking and a large pool just steps from the shore. And that's just the beginning. See last year's post for more details.

Some other new features for 2011 include:

1. In the Den, we've replaced the A/V cabinet with one that has more convenient DVD storage, as well as a bit more room for the components.

2. In the Bunk Bedroom, we've added a small book case along with several dozen children's books.

3. In the Office Nook, we've added a credenza for storage and a detailed wall map of the Outer Banks. We've also upgraded the wireless router to improve internet coverage throughout the house (and poolside).

4. We've ordered some additional Adirondack chairs for the mid-level deck as a compliment to the pair we added last year. We expect them to arrive sometime in May. Yet another new color...

Finally, we've refeshed several kitchen items and added a few new decorative items as well. We hope you enjoy your stay, and please contact us with your feedback, questions and suggestions.

Video: The Pine Island Beach Club

Access to the Pine Island Beach Club will be provided at no extra cost to all Sound Racer guests in 2011. Village Realty has produced this short video that provides a good overview of the club's amenities.