Vivaldi: The sound of silence & comfort

MANILA, Philippines - It’s almost an irony that an air-conditioning system boasting a quiet feature would be named after a composer — a Baroque composer at that, famous for his wedding cantata and operas commissioned by European nobles. When you think about it, though, you realize that Samsung was on to something when it started naming its air-conditioners after musical terms, such as last year’s Forte and Vivace, which this year’s Vivaldi model improves on.

Released only in February, Samsung’s split air-conditioner Vivaldi carries two features that set it apart from other models and brands. First is the Smart Saver, which everyone needs in this season of hot nights, and the Good Sleep Mode, which everybody needs in these stressful times of rising electricity costs.

Christopher Pandi, head of system air conditioner consumer electronics for Samsung Philippines, explains that with the Smart Saver Mode in Vivaldi, the brand’s premium model, you get to save as much as 30 percent on your electricity bill. “Once the temperature you set is reached, say, 20 degrees, the compressor is turned off and slows down the fan speed. With other brands, the fan speed is continuous. If the fan is running at 1,000 watts, it will only run at 700 watts with the Smart Saver. That’s a lot of savings.”

The Good Sleep Mode, a feature that was already built into last year’s split-type and remote-control models, is exactly as its name implies: to help you sleep well.

Samsung partnered with a Korean university to study the science of sleep and how one’s sleep is influenced by the environment. “When you turn this feature on, it automatically drops the temperature by two degrees than your setting in the first hour because you’re in the falling-asleep stage, which is easier achieved in a cool temperature. After an hour, when you are sleeping soundly, it gradually increases the temperature.”

The feature is based on an eight-hour sleep cycle, so if you set it at 20 degrees at, say, 10 p.m., it goes down to 18 degrees from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., then begins to go up in the next six hours to 22 degrees.

Why? Chris explains, “When we’re active, our body temperature is high and it takes a lot more cooling to normalize it and bring it to the desired level. But when we’re already asleep, the body cools down because we’re not moving. Ever notice how we wake up in the middle of the night to turn off the aircon because we feel too cold? Vivaldi does this for you — it automatically increases the temperature so you don’t wake up.”

Not just that. In the last hour, the temperature will increase by another degree — to wake you up. “Pag masyadong malamig masarap matulog even if you’ve been asleep for eight hours, right? This one sets the temperature for you to wake up.” 

What if you plan to sleep for 12 hours? Chris laughs as if to say, “Who does that?” (On weekends, I actually do sometimes!) The Good Sleep Mode works only on an eight-hour cycle and will begin again in the ninth hour, as if to say, “Hey, get up, get up!”

“Whether a homeowner is looking for comfort, affordability, or a long-lasting product like a brand-new father would for his newborn child, the Vivaldi is a perfect addition to anyone’s home,” Chris adds.

Which is why in its campaign, Samsung picked PBA Alaska Aces player Larry Fonacier and Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants head coach Ryan Gregorio.

Larry and his wife Lora have baby Liam to consider when picking out appliances for their bedroom. Chris says that Samsung’s premium line features an air-purifying system that filters 99 percent of air bacteria and allergens to help protect babies. 

 “My immediate concern when I buy anything is: How long will it last me? Is it environment- friendly? Is it expensive?” says Larry. “If my parents have been using a brand for a long time, then that’s good enough for me.”

Ryan says he also wants to provide a comfortable home for his family and that his top three considerations are the cost, quality, and after-sales service.

Samsung’s range of split types are priced very competitively — a 1HP costs P23,995, 1.5HP is P26,995, 2HP is P34,995, and 2.5HP is P40,995.

“This new range of air conditioners combines unsurpassed Samsung technology with sparkling beauty to provide customers with utmost comfort,” adds Brian. “The new Vivaldi Max Air Conditioner with Smart Saver and Good Sleep Mode II, and Multi-step Filter not only dramatically improves the quality of the air people breathe, it also saves energy consumption and provides elegant design to the room.”

Like the slim, beautiful LCD TVs that Samsung is known for all over the world, its lines of air-conditioners are just as pretty. The Vivaldi fits very well in minimalist spaces because of its slim frame — a good 12 percent more compact than the standard size of a one-horsepower air-conditioner.

Now, how cool is that?