CE Pro Podcast: Recent Episodes
CE Pro
Interviews addressing the business needs of professional integrators serving the small and midsize business (SMB) market.
As Daryl Friedman prepares for his final CEDIA Expo as CEO, he joins the CE Pro Podcast to reflect on his tenure leading the association, the evolution of the custom integration industry, and what's next for CEDIA.
In this conversation, Friedman discusses the growing role of AI, why integrators must become equal partners with architects and designers, CEDIA's advocacy efforts, and why he believes technology integration will soon be viewed as an essential trade alongside electrical and HVAC work. He also shares his favorite CEDIA Expo memories, advice for his successor, and what he hopes his lasting legacy will be.
CEDIA Expo 2026 is shaping up to be one of the custom integration industry's biggest events, and manufacturers are investing more than ever. In this CE Pro Podcast, Zachary Comeau sits down with CEDIA Expo leaders Jason McGraw and Brian Pagel, along with Josh.ai CEO Alex Capecelatro and Origin Acoustics CEO Nick Berry, to discuss why the show remains the industry's premier gathering, how attendee feedback is shaping the event, and why hands-on experiences continue to matter in an AI-driven world.
AI isn't just about asking ChatGPT questions anymore. In this episode of the CE Pro Podcast, Sonance CEO Ari Supran shares how he went from experimenting with AI for simple tasks to helping integrators and business leaders use advanced AI tools to build software, automate workflows, and reclaim valuable time.
Supran explains why many businesses are still stuck in the "chat" phase of AI adoption and how newer agentic tools like Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Codex are enabling users to delegate work instead of simply generating answers. He discusses practical examples of AI organizing files, analyzing documents, building dashboards, creating custom business applications, and even acting as a digital coworker.
The conversation also explores the growing role of AI agents, the importance of open APIs and software integrations, and why Supran believes custom integration firms have a unique opportunity to build purpose-driven tools tailored to their own operations. Along the way, he shares lessons Sonance has learned from deploying AI across the organization and offers advice for integrators looking to move beyond basic AI use cases.
Whether you're just getting started with AI or already experimenting with automation and custom tools, this discussion provides a practical look at where AI is headed and how integration businesses can prepare for what's next.
In this conversation, CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with CEDIA’s Evan West, Senior Conference Strategy Manager, and Paul Dolenc, VP of Education & Training, to break down the biggest themes shaping this year’s education program at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver.
The discussion explores how the custom integration industry is evolving beyond traditional AV installation into a more collaborative, design-build-focused business centered around wellness, lighting, cybersecurity, AI, power management, and recurring revenue.
Topics include:
- Why AI is now embedded across nearly every education track
- How lighting and shading are becoming core business opportunities
- The growing importance of cybersecurity in the connected home
- Why integrators need deeper collaboration with architects and designers
- Power management education and communicating value to homeowners
- Operational maturity, service contracts, and recurring revenue strategies
- The future of wellness-focused smart homes
According to CEDIA, AI-related discussions are expected to touch nearly every session at Expo 2026, while dedicated lighting and shading education tracks reflect growing homeowner demand for human-centric experiences and seamless technology integration.
CEDIA Expo 2026 takes place in Denver, Sept. 1-4.
Bob Schuppe of Resolute Design Group discusses lighting trends, disappearing technology and why CEDIA Expo remains critical for integrators evaluating emerging solutions.
Daryl Friedman, CEDIA's Global President & CEO, and Greg Simmons, Vice President of Industry Partnerships at ADI, join the CE Pro Podcast to discuss CEDIA's advocacy work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.
Topics include spreading awareness about the custom integration industry as a career path, CEDIA's work to establish a specific, separate occupational code for "Technology Integrator" within the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), responding to recent scrutiny of routers made outside the U.S., and more.
Live from CEDIA Expo 2025, Monitor Audio discusses its full-line speaker strategy, growing demand for high-fidelity audio, and how new products are addressing evolving installation environments for today’s integrators.
In Episode 15 of Inside Buzz, Josh Cooperman of Convo by Design sits down with Adam Eberhardt of Resolute Design Group at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 to explore the rapidly evolving world of lighting control and smart home design. With more than three decades in the integration industry, Adam breaks down why lighting fixtures, shading, and color‑tuned environments are now essential elements of luxury residential projects - and how homeowners are thinking beyond traditional AV.
Adam also shares insights on educating clients, coordinating with architects and designers, and navigating shifting technologies like PoE shading, cloud‑based systems, and network‑heavy homes. From multifunction entertainment spaces to wellness‑driven bathrooms, Adam highlights the trends reshaping how people experience their homes.
In this episode, CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with Richard Charschan of Acoustic Smart Home Theater Interiors to explore the evolving home theater market and what it means for integrators today.
Charschan shares insights from decades on the front lines of custom theater design, explaining how demand has surged since COVID as consumers seek immersive, at-home entertainment experiences. He breaks down why the market is increasingly split between ultra-high-end dedicated cinemas and more budget-friendly setups, with fewer midrange projects in between.
The conversation dives into key trends shaping the category, including the rise of video walls, improvements in projection technology, and the growing importance of acoustics, isolation, and proper room design. While video walls are gaining attention, Charschan notes that traditional projectors still dominate the vast majority of installations due to cost and practicality.
The episode also tackles a major industry debate: dedicated theaters vs. multipurpose media rooms. Charschan argues that while both have their place, nothing replaces the immersive, distraction-free experience of a purpose-built theater environment.
Additional topics include:
- How streaming and cinematic TV content are fueling demand
- The role of architects and interior designers in driving (or limiting) theater adoption
- Shifting design trends toward more lifestyle-friendly aesthetics
- New surround sound formats and advancements in audio processing
- Why education is critical to growing the home theater category
Ultimately, Charschan makes the case that home theaters are not just entertainment spaces, but “escape rooms” that provide a level of immersion and emotional impact unmatched by traditional living room setups.
In this episode of the Inside Buzz podcast, Gina Colucci of Market Share — a Pacific Northwest representative for Lutron and several high-end AV brands — joins the discussion at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 to share her perspective from the show floor and her work bridging the gap between technology and the design community.
CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau sits down with Senior Editor Nick Boever to recap Lightapalooza 2026 and break down the biggest developments in lighting — from fixture innovation and control strategies to human-centric design, power infrastructure, and how integrators are positioning lighting as a core system in the modern home.
In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman of Convo by Design sits down with Dan Augsburger, U.S. Residential Sales Manager for LEA Professional, to explore the technologies and trends shaping today’s AV integration world.
Dan breaks down how LEA Professional’s IoT-enabled smart amplifiers are designed with intuitive IT platforms, built‑in DSP, and flexible smart power features that help integrators optimize system performance with ease. He explains why LEA’s cloud‑based monitoring and management tools are often the “light‑bulb moment” for integrators—enabling real‑time system health alerts, remote adjustments, and major cost savings by reducing unnecessary truck rolls.
The conversation also dives into current market sentiment, including how tariffs and interest rates are affecting different project tiers, why high‑end jobs remain strong, and how integrators are adapting. Dan provides insight into LEA’s manufacturing strategy, the engineering advantages of being based in Indiana, and the company’s commitment to working seamlessly with any control system or speaker brand to “raise the tide” across the industry.
Jason McGraw, CEDIA Expo/CIX show director and group vice president, lays out what the Expo team is working on for the 2026 edition of the show.
McGraw chats with CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau and Commercial Integrator's Dan Ferrisi (Group Director of Content + Editorial, Industrial + Tech at Emerald) about new initiatives, new ideas and what is shaping up to be a very exciting CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026.
In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman of Convo By Design sits down with Eric Nakkila of Selective Design to explore the evolution of custom integration.
They discuss the growing influence of European design, the rapid innovation in architectural lighting, invisible speaker technology, vinyl’s resurgence, and why stronger collaboration between integrators and designers is critical to the industry’s future. Eric also shares how manufacturers are navigating pricing volatility, tariffs, and supply chain uncertainty — while delivering high-performance, design-forward solutions.
In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Josh Cooperman sits down with Ruslan Polinovsky of DMF Lighting to explore how manufacturers, integrators, and designers can better connect around lighting innovation.
Ruslan shares insights on engaging the design community through clearer education, real-world showroom experiences, and collaboration that starts earlier in the project lifecycle. The conversation also covers how modern lighting solutions—like tunable white and digital retrofit capabilities—are changing the way designers and homeowners experience lighting.
Recorded at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, this episode of Inside Buzz features Hagan Kappler of Daisy appears on Inside Buzz to discuss leadership, workforce development, and the future of integration. Hagen explains why investing in technicians, apprenticeship programs, and women in the industry is both a social imperative and smart business. The episode offers a candid look at how integrators can grow stronger through scale and collaboration.
In this episode of Inside Buzz recorded live at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Joe Piccirilli, CEO and founder of Rosewater Energy, shares his 50+ year journey through the AV and custom integration industry—and the critical insight that led him to redefine residential energy resilience.
From his early days building Sound Advice and distributing Crestron and Lutron, Joe explains how recurring system failures all traced back to one overlooked issue: poor power quality. He breaks down why voltage sags—not surges—are the real threat to today’s microprocessor-driven homes, and why uninterrupted, “perfect power” is now foundational to luxury residences, safe rooms, healthcare applications, and aging-in-place solutions.
This podcast, recorded live during CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, dives into the world of Leon Speakers. Caitlin Stewart, director of sales, shares how the company blends innovative design with cutting-edge audio solutions. Watch this podcast to learn about Leon’s Ann Arbor roots, their collaborations with architects and designers, and everything in between. This episode of Inside Buzz also explores the importance of design thinking, illuminates industry trends and discusses the power of creative partnerships.
Recorded at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Andrei Matei, co-founder of Robbox Tools, joins Josh Cooperman on Inside Buzz to talk about reinventing the modern toolbox through smart features and a long-term vision for a more efficient tool ecosystem for integrators. Plus, how hands-on demos and real-world use cases change how integrators feel about adopting new tools.
From the CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025 show floor, CEDIA Global CEO Daryl Friedman reflects on industry momentum, emerging challenges, and where the channel is headed next. The conversation provides a big-picture view of technology trends, professional development, and the role of community in shaping the future of integration.
What was the "Inside Buzz" during CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025? Host Dan Ferrisi gets the story from Shawn Hansson, founder and CEO of Logic Integration, in this podcast recorded live at the show. Hansson shares his journey from a newcomer to an award-winning integrator, offering advice for residential integrators looking to enter the commercial space. The two dive into the convergence of resimercial AV, while also exploring the future impact of AI on systems integration and the growing trend of manufacturers collaborating to simplify user experiences.
At CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, URC’s team didn’t just showcase technology—they found inspiration. In this interview, URC leaders explain how conversations with dealers and time spent walking the show floor directly influenced the development of AI-powered circadian rhythm lighting and a broader automation engine inside URC Total Control. The discussion explores why the Expo remains a critical forum for innovation, how real-world dealer feedback shaped URC’s approach, and why future automation must reduce complexity while improving wellness, efficiency, and quality of life
CE Pro editors Zachary Comeau and Nick Boever recap ISE 2026 in Barcelona, focusing on how design-forward hardware, lighting innovation, and international brands are shaping the future of custom integration. The conversation highlights a more mature industry, with greater emphasis on simplicity, execution, and AI-driven tools that improve both integrator workflows and the end-user experience.
In an interview with CE Pro, Total Home Technologies CEO Keith Harrison says homeowner satisfaction with professionally installed smart homes is far lower than most integrators realize. Citing CEDIA data and manufacturer statistics, he notes that satisfaction averages in the high 40% range after one year and falls below 20% after five years. Harrison attributes this to weak networking foundations, inconsistent industry standards, limited customization and a tendency for integrators to undersell the infrastructure required for reliable systems.
He argues the industry still treats automation like a one-time appliance rather than an ongoing service, leading to abandoned systems and frustrated homeowners. Harrison also warns that integrators are behind on AI, while Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung rapidly push predictive home features. He urges dealers to embrace simplicity, lean into mainstream ecosystems when appropriate and design systems built on proper networking, redundancy and long-term service.
Michael Restrepo discusses how passion and purpose drive his work in the custom integration industry, describing Restrepo Innovations as a concierge-style design and build firm focused on meaningful client experiences. He highlights the human impact of smart home technology, the value of community at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX, and his commitment to an optimistic, people-first approach to the business.
Recorded live from CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, Rushi Kumar, Vice President of Engineering at DMF Lighting, sits down in the VW Buzz podcast van to discuss how engineering, design, and technology are converging to redefine modern lighting. Kumar traces his journey from Lutron to Crestron to DMF, sharing insights into how LED innovation, digital lighting, and tunable technologies are enabling new levels of design precision and user experience. He also discusses how AI and intelligent control systems are shaping the next generation of smart lighting, balancing automation with simplicity for homeowners and integrators alike.
At CEDIA Expo 2025, Harman Luxury Audio’s Jim Garrett joined Convo by Design host Josh Cooperman inside the Volkswagen ID. Buzz “Podcast Van” to discuss how performance, aesthetics, and lifestyle continue to converge in home entertainment. Garrett highlighted Harman’s collaboration with Samsung, integrator feedback as a driver of innovation, and the company’s push toward discreet, design-friendly solutions like invisible loudspeakers.
Recorded live on the Smart Stage at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, this episode features Ari Supran, CEO of Sonance, delivering one of the show’s most talked-about presentations: “Practical Uses of AI in the Custom Integration Industry.”
In this engaging and highly practical session, Supran walks the audience through how AI is already transforming day-to-day operations inside his company—and how custom integrators can do the same. Instead of focusing on futuristic speculation, he demonstrates how AI tools can save hours of manual work today.
In this exclusive interview conducted during CEDIA Expo/CIX last month in Denver, Buzz Delano, principal consultant at Delano Associates, reflects on the progress he's seen over 30 years in the business. That includes how we've seen design, custom builders, kitchen and bath technology, furniture and decor come to complement audio, video, home theater, networking, windows and shading at events like CEDIA Expo/CIX. This has redefine the entire industry as "the smart home profession," he says. Later in the interview, Delano describes the unique value proposition that Delano News Advance brings to our industry.
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Ring account managers Chris Babiak and Tommy Leonard join CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau to share strategies for growing your integration business with Ring. From creative upselling techniques to cross-industry partnerships and overlooked product features, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help pros build better systems, increase referrals, and boost recurring revenue.
In this episode of the CE Pro Podcast, Paul Williams, Managing Director of Home Management Solutions at Nice, discusses his recent advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill as part of CEDIA’s second annual Smart Home Day. The conversation focuses on why direct engagement with lawmakers is essential for the continued growth and innovation of the smart home industry.
Williams outlines several key policy issues raised during meetings with Congressional staff, including the need for tariff relief on specific imported products, support for the CHIPS and Science Act to bolster domestic semiconductor production, and backing for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which expands 529 savings plans to cover trade school and certification programs.
The episode underscores how industry-led advocacy efforts are not only elevating the profile of home technology professionals but also shaping future discussions around emerging topics like artificial intelligence and data privacy. Williams encourages broader participation from integrators and manufacturers to ensure the industry's voice is heard as regulations continue to evolve.
Through the publication of his book Richard Charschan, president of AcousticSmart, aims to educate interior designers and architects on the benefits of properly designed home theaters.
On the latest CE Pro Podcast, Joel Silver of ISF, Jason Dustal of Murideo and AVPro Edge, and Robert Zohn of Value Electronics, explain how even simple calibration adjustments can create happier clients.
Before lighting fixtures and power management became hot categories in custom integration, the big buzz was about the impact of wireless audio. With multipurpose media rooms becoming the norm, we spoke with WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association President Tony Ostrom about the state of wireless audio and especially in surround sound settings and other applications as well, in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode.
In the world of interior lighting, artwork needs to be specially lit if homeowners want to capture the essence of beauty the artist originally intended. Step outside and you’ll find that to be no different, only instead of the artist being Basquiat or Monet, it’s good old mother nature (and of course the architect that helped design the home). WAC President Patrick Laidlaw says it’s this realization that drove the company to develop its recently released Colorscaping system. Released just before this year’s Lightapapoolza, the new control system for outdoor color-tunable lighting has already garnered plenty of attention from dealers, and so, on this episode of the CE Pro Podcast, our web editor, Nick Boever, chats with Laidlaw, as well as IoT Product Manager Michael Sabolcik to dig into the details of the new system and what integrators can expect to experience when working with it.
Daryl Friedman admits he doesn’t have time for hobbies these days leading CEDIA as global president & CEO. It didn’t help that the former GRAMMY executive took reins of those roles in 2021, when the pandemic was experiencing a surge. He came into CEDIA and embarked on a worldwide tour of the organization’s conferences and meetings with integrator members.
Thankfully, I was able to capture 30 minutes of Friedman’s time recently – on a day when he only had eight meetings. We chatted about Friedman’s challenges after being named as head of CEDIA; his investment into the community; his and the association’s commitment to advocating for members; and the direction of the organization for the rest of 2024 into 2025.
HDMI Licensing President Rob Tobias chats about AI's impact on AV, improving immersive experiences, Blu-ray discs vs. streaming content, identifying counterfeit cables and more.
One of the most enduring companies serving the custom integration industry is Russound. The New Hampshire-based company has some exciting products for 2024, highlighted by its AVA-Series of mini-AV receivers (AVRs) to expand its audio riches for the CEDIA channel.
In the latest edition of the CE Pro Podcast, Russound CEO Charlie Porritt joins to chat about the latest happenings and R&D developments from the audio company.
Vetting a new vendor for your portfolio can be a daunting process, but that’s where your industry networking comes in handy. Down in Florida, Anthony Petrone, founder and CEO of Wellington-based Petrone Technology Group, was seeking an outdoor audio solution and his dealer friends kept pushing him toward Coastal Source.
Hear how the match was an immediate success and why Coastal Source CEO Franco D’Ascanio is expecting big things from 2024, all in this latest CE Pro Podcast episode. Editor’s note, we recorded the conversation in late 2023, so the references to “next year” in it refer to 2024.
Everyone knows about CEDIA, the leading association for the custom integration industry. Chances are you’ve attended CEDIA Expo and taken CEDIA instructor-led technology courses. But did you know about all the stuff the association engages in behind the scenes to benefit the entire industry? In case you didn’t, I talked to Darren Reaman, director of government affairs at CEDIA, to discuss the group’s advocacy efforts and other endeavors that help elevate the industry, all in this week’s CE Pro podcast episode.
The fall and early winter periods are important times of the year in the world of home AV. For many homeowners, it means buying new AV systems in preparation for a winter of staying home and watching movies, streamed content, and sports such as hockey and basketball.
The annual CEDIA Expo, which took place just after Labor Day, the 2023 event in Denver marked a milestone period for the electronics market. Recapping some of the most important video developments from the CEDIA Expo 2023 show floor in Denver, the latest CE Pro Podcast features our expert ‘Video Guys’: Joel Silver, CEO & lead developer, Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), Jason Dustal of Murideo, Robert Zohn, president and founder of Value Electronics, and first-time guest John Bishop of Bishop Architectural Entertainment Services.
Following a successful CEDIA Expo 2023 in which home audio – particularly immersive audio – was front-and-center on the show floor, it was time to talk surround sound with our “Audio Guys” regulars on the latest CE Pro Podcast.
Joined by CE Pro All-Star Band keyboard player Steve Haas, who is a nationally recognized acoustician in the residential and commercial audio markets, along with the CE Pro Podcast resident audiophiles Steve Silberman, director of sales, West for Savant, and Paul Bochner, owner and president of Electronic Concepts, the trio dove into several immersive audio related topics.
This year, Nationwide Marketing Group expanded its reach with the rebranding of its residential dealer group to Oasys Residential Technology Group and launched a commercial counterpart, the Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group, in addition to the well-established Azione Unlimited.
The leaders of those organizations – Richard Glikes, president and chief creative officer of Azione Unlimited, Hank Alexander, director of the Oasys Residential Technology Group, and Chris Whitley, executive director the Ellipsys Commercial Technology Group – chatted with me about the latest initiatives for members in this week’s CE Pro Podcast.
We just wrapped up CEDIA Expo 2023, and beyond the usual product innovations and education sessions, CEDIA hosted its annual awards banquet where it honors a Lifetime Achievement Award winner and often, but not always, a special CEDIA Fellow recognition.
This year the special CEDIA Fellow recipient was James Chen, managing director of Kordz. We were privileged to have Chen connect with us from Australia over Zoom. In this episode, he tells us about his three decades in the industry, his instruction and volunteerism with CEDIA and how he’s helped Kordz grow since joining 15 years ago.
One of the highlights at CEDIA Expo every year are the amazing home theater and audiophile demo rooms, and it looks like this year will be no different. One in particular that’s sure to stand out at CEDIA Expo 2023 in Denver (Sept. 7-9) is the 11.6.6-channel Dolby Atmos theater being staged by Seymour-Screen Excellence, StormAudio, Grimani Systems, and RowOne Seating.
The brands say it will be the first fully digital AES67 Audio-over-IP (AoIP) home theater at the show in Sound Room 10 of the Colorado Convention Center. To tell us more about what that means and how the room will be set up, I chatted with Anthony Grimani of Grimani Systems andGary Blouse, VP of Sales for North America at StormAudio in this week’s episode of the CE Pro Podcast.
While the show floor and demo rooms focused on new products are always the center of attention at CEDIA Expo, it’s always a good reminder that the annual tradeshow also delivers tons of education and training opportunities too.
To help get CEDIA Expo attendees thinking about what kinds of sessions to add into their schedules this year in Denver, I spoke with Mandy Beckner, vice president of education and training to get the lowdown in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode.
Veteran CE pros may remember Blake Vackar from his first stint on the sales side of leading screen and shades manufacturer Screen Innovations. Well, after a brief detour, Vackar is back at SI at Brand Ambassador and Screen Evangelist and ready to meet with integrators to evangelize the opportunities in those categories.
What does all that entail? The big takeaway for integrators is that big screens and functional shades make a compelling combination to sell – that said, we’ll let Vackar tell you more in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode discussion.
From 2009 to 2020, Vackar was director and VP of sales at Screen Innovations, before going to Meyer Sound where he was residential sales manager until making the move back to SI.
This week we have back one of our favorite guests here on the CE Pro Podcast, UK-based Together For Cinema founder and industry do-gooder Ian Morrish.
This time around, Morrish updates us on Together For Cinema’s 2023 children’s hospice home theater projects, donations and sponsors, as well as the group’s new status as a Community Interest Company, and another big fundraiser event happening in July, in the latest podcast episode.
The organization, which Morrish established back in 2009, has been pulling off multiple children’s hospice home theater projects across the UK particularly ramping up in the past few years. This year is no different, as the first half of 2023 has been exceedingly busy for Together For Cinema.
With a portfolio of some of the most revered brands in home audio, few manufacturers can match the allure of Harman Luxury Audio.
Jim Garrett, senior director, product strategy and planning for Harman Luxury Audio, is a long-time home audio market veteran and enthusiast. Harman’s stable of brands includes Mark Levinson, JBL, JBL Synthesis, Arcam, Lexicon, and Revel, and in the latest CE Pro Podcast, Garrett explains how the company has evolved to meet the diverse needs of consumers enjoying everything from immersive audio to personal audio.
The last time we talked to DoorBird, the IP doorstation specialist had recently expanded its North American offices from San Francisco to add an East Coast base in Jacksonville, Fla., where Justin Clark heads up sales for the Americas, Australia & New Zealand, and assists dealers in various ways.
He rejoins the podcast with even more to discuss this time around. During this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode, Clark updates the custom integration channel by discussing DoorBird’s presence at this year’s International Builders’ Show and ISC West events; how last year’s acquisition by security giant ASSA ABLOY is impacting R&D; the growing multidwelling/multifamily unit (MDU) market potential; CEDIA Expo plans; and much more.
To paraphrase the classic rock band Styx, “these are the best of times” when it comes to home video entertainment. That sentiment is shared by CE Pro’s expert panel of “Video Guys” when they discussed spring 2023 trends on the latest CE Pro Podcast.
According to our regular “Video Guys” in their most recent conversation with CE Pro Senior Editor Bob Archer, home video continues to experience a golden age of technologies – conveniently timed with what many consider to be a golden age of prestige TV content being produced by all of the myriad services.
In this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode, Joel Silver, CEO and lead developer for the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF), Robert Zohn, president and founder of Value Electronics, and Jason Dustal of Murideo offer insights into the latest trends to chat about why the latest displays, resolution, HDR tech and more are putting integrators in great position to indeed deliver “the best of times” to videophile and home theater customers.
The shortage of labor is not unique to the custom installation market, but it has been an ongoing struggle for many years. CEDIA is tackling the issue head on in several ways. First, the association unveiled its Next Gen Smart Home Career Toolkit to help integrators connect with the next generation of employees. Also, CEDIA unveiled its slate of 80 sessions for CEDIA Expo 2023 education this fall in Denver.
Mandy Beckner, vice president of education and training at CEDIA, reviewed both the initiatives talking with CE Pro editor Jason Knott in this podcast episode.
With 2023 already flying by, CE Pro took the opportunity to ask its resident “Audio Guys” what trends they see in the market as we close out the first quarter, in the latest episode of the CE Pro Podcast.
Paul Bochner, owner and president of Electronics Concepts and Professional Audio Consultants, in Rochelle Park, N.J., and Steve Silberman, business development, audio for Savant, agree that to a certain level homeowners tastes have evolved over the past few years. Bochner says his clients have become increasingly focused on how their electronics complement their daily lives.
Recent research shows that landscape lighting is among the most in-demand outdoor technologies by homeowners, designers and realtors, but there’s much more to the exterior than just “landscaping” as potential integration spots.
Outdoor lighting and audio specialist Coastal Source gives installers solutions to cover all areas of the exterior, and technical sales specialist Shay Brummer returns to the CE Pro Podcast to discuss that, as well as what the company showed during the recent HTSA Lightapalooza event.
“We are on a 1,000-mile journey, and we're only about 500 miles into it,” says John Heyman, CEO of Snap One, in reference to the ambitious plans the company has ahead.
That journey has taken the Charlotte, N.C.-based company from its humble beginnings in 2000 from founder Jay Faison to become the bellwether company in the smart home industry. Snap One holds several unique positions in the market as:
- The leading brand specified and installed by custom integrators in more than 20 categories of equipment
- Both a manufacturer and a distributor
- One of the few pure-play publicly owned companies in the custom integration industry.
Heyman, along with Chief Product Office GPaul Hess, spoke with CE Pro about what the past year has been like, offered their outlook for 2023 and beyond, and provided a few glimpses of what might lie ahead in terms of a product roadmap and how they plan to help integrators thrive, operate more efficiently (especially in regards to service), and eventually build recurring monthly revenue (RMR).
The big ISC West security tradeshow in Las Vegas is around the corner, and we have one of the leading video surveillance providers on this week’s CE Pro Podcast to walk us through technologies, applications, trends and more. Fredrik Nilsson, VP of the Americas at Axis Communications, joined me for a conversation last summer that is still very relevant today for custom integrators in the security market.
Axis is based in southern Sweden, where Nilsson hails from originally, though for two decades he’s called the Boston area home, near the company’s North American HQ in Chelmsford, Mass.
The company was founded 40 years ago, back in 1984, and by 1996 had invented the IP network camera, originally more for web monitoring use, Nilsson says. It began seeing more security usage for the technology and now 25+ years later Axis is a global leader in both IP network cameras and overall video surveillance cameras for security.
This year for the second year in a row I visited the Design & Construction Week festivities, which includes the International Builders Show (IBS) and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), owned by the National Association of Home Builders and National Kitchen & Bath Association, respectively.
Last year’s return to an in-person show in Orlando was big, but this year’s event in Las Vegas was record setting. Hear about some of the innovations, trends and technologies as I discuss the event with executive editor Chelsie Butler and managing editor Leslie Claggett of CE Pro sister publication KBB, in this week’s podcast episode.
The annual Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, was held a few weeks ago and it did not disappoint. The pre-audit attendance of 115,000 made it the largest show since early 2020. While most of the event is not targeted at integrators, there were some interesting exhibits that bode for the future.
CE Pro editor Jason Knott spoke with CEDIA VP Giles Sutton about what they saw at the show and what it means for integrators.
This week on the CE Pro Podcast we’re looking back on the editors’ of CE Pro’s favorite podcast moments from 2022. Executive editor Arlen Schweiger, senior editor Bob Archer, editor in chief Jason Knott and web editor Nick Boever all hosted guests on the CE Pro Podcast in 2022, and while we’d say all the conversations were gems, we of course have moments that stand out more than others.
So stay tuned in this episode for highlights from our selections, featuring guests Chris Pinder of HDANYWHERE and Ian Morrish of Together For Cinema; Brian Hoyer of Shielded Healing; Joel Silver of the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF); Harman Luxury Audio’s Jim Garrett; and David Ly of Iveda.
CE Pro senior editor Robert Archer has been covering the custom electronics industry for 20+ years and never misses a CEDIA Expo. Over the years, Bob has also gone through curriculum from CEDIA and other associations like the Home Acoustics Alliance to further his AV expertise.
So when Bob does his annual top products of the year posts, we know he does not take the selections lightly and brings more than two decades of industry and AV knowledge to his choices. After he posted his favorite products for 2022, we asked Bob if he could join the CE Pro Podcast and share his rationale behind the selections, which represent a multitude of categories to help dealers.
Additionally, Bob, editor-in-chief Jason Knott and Arlen Schweiger recently pulled together our annual list of suggestions for “5 Hot Technology Opportunities for Integrators” for 2023, which is covered in our January issue State of the Industry section. Keep an eye out for the issue for more in-depth information, but in this podcast episode Bob and Arlen reveal the top five tech trends and offer some reasoning for the forecasted trend.
With a background in smart city technologies, Iveda is now eyeing smart home. The release of IvedaCare brings an AI-driven software solution powered by sensors straight to the hands of integrators, and though it focuses on aging-in-place solutions, the possibilities go far beyond that.
The solution is scalable, customizable, and comes with out-of-the-box readiness that can be expanded upon as needs change. Though the core focus is for aging-in-place solutions, the software is capable of being used in energy and environmental monitoring solutions, gathering data, and allowing professionals to develop truly intelligent automations for their clients.
In his first podcast since joining CE Pro as Web Editor, Nick Boever speaks with David Ly, CEO of Iveda, to learn more about the product and its potential use cases for integrators in both residential and commercial channels.
Is 8K ready for prime time? It seems like an odd question to be asking since it feels like the industry only recently converted to 4K. But with gaming as the driving force behind 8K content, the momentum is already building for the next wave of video resolution. So what does 8K actually bring in terms of color gamut and HDR? How will 8K alter video distribution? Will the current HDMI 2.1 spec support 8K AV-over-IP?
These are just some of the burning questions that CE Pro editor Jason Knott posed to Mike Tsinberg, president, and Leon Tsinberg, business development manager, at Key Digital Systems in this week's CE Pro Podcast.
Outdoor technology remains red hot, and one company that’s been leading the charge for custom integrators is outdoor lighting and audio specialist Coastal Source. The Moorestown, N.J.-headquartered company, which also has offices in the Florida Keys, had a big presence at the recent CEDIA Expo 2022 in Dallas … did you get a chance to check out their booth?
Actually, Coastal Source had multiple areas showcasing its solutions – one wasn’t a booth, however, but the Destination Backyard event it co-hosted with ruggedized display manufacturer Séura outside the front of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Coastal Source president Franco D’Ascanio and VP of operations Jon Bowman discuss the company’s new products highlighted at CEDIA Expo, trends in outdoor technology requests, dealer benefits and programs, plus more on the latest CE Pro Podcast episode.
Cellphone signal boosters has been a growing category for integrators for several years now, largely dominated in the custom industry by a couple of companies – SureCall and Wilson Electronics, which are always at the top of CE Pro’s Brand Analysis rankings. Uniden Cellular by Siyata Mobile is an established company that’s joining the custom fray with cell signal booster solutions for home, commercial and in-vehicle.
LaRue Martz, VP of sales for the Americas at Uniden, discusses the company’s products, installation process, trainings and certifications, sales demos, differentiators and more in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode.
This is a hosted panel discussion that brings to life The Cinema Connoisseur’s inaugural "Cinema Sommelier" movie review that used scenes from the hit 2018 movie "A Quiet Place," including supervising sound editor Erik Aadahl.
In the review and in the podcast, Sean Skelley, owner of Definitive Audio in Seattle, describes the specific scenes from the movie he uses to demo home theater to his clients, and explains why he chose a movie whose central theme is the lack of noise and how the movie demonstrates the impact of surround sound effects, or lack of, to enhance the impact of the demo.
Have you ever wished you could install an in-ceiling loudspeaker and not worry about running wire to drive it and connect sources? Well, let us introduce you to Surrey, U.K., brand Lithe Audio, an innovative speaker company that makes all-in-one products that allow you to do just that.
Amit Ravat, co-founder and director of Lithe Audio, debuted the brand to the U.S. market at CEDIA Expo 2022 in Dallas recently. He was excited to show off the all-in-one aspect of the powered speakers, which have built-in support Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, depending on the model. He went over the details with me in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode.
With crowded booths and a lot of static and active product demonstrations, the Expo certainly delivered on the promise to show the latest products to attendees. This year’s bumper crop of products was arguably the most diverse in the history of the CEDIA Expo.
In the CE Pro Podcast recap editors Jason Knott and Arlen Schweiger, along with Commercial Integrator’s editor Dan Ferrisi noted the show featured products from a wide swath of exhibitors, including traditional AV companies, as well as the control and automation manufacturers; networking companies, and newer manufacturers to the market such as wellness, lighting and unified communications (UC).
CEDIA Expo 2022 is right around the corner and CE Pro’s resident “Video Guys” are not only excited to see the latest products during the annual trade event, they are eagerly anticipating the show’s training opportunities.
Joel Silver, CEO and lead developer, Imaging Science Foundation (ISF); Jason Dustal of Murideo; and Robert Zohn, president and founder of Value Electronics, point out the CEDIA Expo show is a valuable event for dealers for a numbers. They joined the CE Pro Podcast to discuss the upcoming tradeshow in Dallas, as well as cover Value Electronics’ annual TV shootout.
If you’ve done work with designers and architects, you know that they are looking for design-minded or discreet solutions for technology. Two trending categories that can help integrators win over those trade partners on projects – and their customers – are motorized shades and voice control.
And speaking of those categories, Brittany Mier y Teran, Partnerships and CI Channel Manager for North America, Somfy; and Casey Levy-Tulloch, Manager of Business Strategy and Partnerships Team, Josh.ai, talk about the benefits of their latest integration partnership in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode. The motors and window treatments provider and voice command and AI specialist stand to help their dealers make inroads in the design department thanks to the recent announcement.
With the summer winding down the members of the CE Pro All-Star Band are ramping their efforts up. More specifically, the guys are deep into their practice routines working towards making their now annual appearance at the CEDIA Expo 2022 event as memorable as possible.
Coming off a three-year break in their live performances, band members are excited to play two sets of classic rock songs in front of their co-workers, peers and friends at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
Taking time from their work schedules and practice regimes, band members took some time to look ahead to what it will feel like to play at the expo and they discuss the setlists in this episode of the CE Pro Podcast.
As you walk past the storefronts at the Boston Design Center, the System 7 showroom doesn’t stand out too much from the other design storefronts. However, that reason alone is why it stands out so much, as despite looking like a lighting showroom, it is secretly a technology experience center in disguise.
While System 7 still engages in the traditional AV installation (after all it was Lynch’s start in the industry) the company has invested heavily in lighting and shading, even hiring multiple design consultants to join the System 7 team.
It’s all a part of the approach System 7 and its founder and president Gerard Lynch takes when it comes to technology: the design should always be measured by its simplicity, reliability and beauty, not just by bits and bytes.
Wireless audio has come a long way, and one company that continues to propel the technology in exciting directions is Enclave Audio. Rob Jones, chief technology officer, discusses how easy it is for dealers to install and calibrate full wireless surround-sound systems, advantages over soundbars, where wireless audio might be headed next and more in this week’s podcast episode.
To make the category enticing for dealers and customers, Enclave Audio offers WiSA-based wireless surround-sound bundles from its CineHome and CineHome Pro lineup. The company has focused on theater solutions and easily-installed upgrades to soundbars, with the wireless option expanding the potential customer pool for 5.1 systems.
When we challenged integrators to submit pictures of the oldest piece of gear on their inventory shelves for our Oldest Gear Contest, we couldn’t have expected the oldest product to be straight out of the 1970s. Yet, the fact that our first ever Oldest Gear winner said he probably has OLDER stuff lying around somewhere speaks to an issue in the custom integration industry: inventory management.
Tom Loveitt, Design/Sales, Canfield Systems, submitted what is surely the oldest piece of gear during this round of these awards. He says it’s been sitting on Canfield’s shelves since well before he was with the company. Loveitt chats about it in this episode, which also includes CE Pro senior web editor Adam Forziati's discussion with James Foxall of contest sponsor Tigerpaw Software.
The power conditioning and power protection category might not have the wow factor of audio video components or pizzazz of automation programming, but it could be the most mission-critical in a dealer’s portfolio. After all, it’s the components that are protecting – and even improving the performance – all the other equipment in a rack.
Torus Power president Kevin Main talks about his company’s unique power technologies to help integrators amp up their systems, set up a proper power foundation and deliver clean power in this week’s CE Pro Podcast.
The company has a deep background in toroidal power transformers, Main explains, dating back to the mid-1980s when it OEM’d power supplies for high-performance audio companies. He says Torus Power worked with the likes of Krell, Bryston, Pass Labs, Mark Levinson, McIntosh and others “where we kind of cut our teeth” in the audio world, he says.
It also made toroidal transformers for medical equipment manufacturers, and around 2006 Torus Power began delivering clean audio to AV systems in the CEDIA channel, centered on the toroidal isolation transformer.
Forget about those old photos of Aunt Margie or the antique clock on the mantel over the fireplace, that space has now become the prime location for the TV. And as they say, "necessity is the mother of invention," which is why MantelMount was created. For integrators, the solution solves a myriad of potential problems related to screen height, viewing distance and viewing angle.
“MantelMount was born out of necessity to solve the problems that are inherent with needing to put a TV over a fireplace,” says Lee Marc, CEO, on this week's CE Pro Podcast. “These days you’ve got fireplace mantel pushing 4.5 to 5 feet; you’ve got 60- to 80-inch TVs that have come down in price considerably, and you have a lot more modern homes being built with an open concept. They have an open kitchen wall with the family room, and one wall is usually the backyard. And really, the only place to put your TV is over the fireplace.”
Marc explains that the combination of the large TV and tall mantel unfortunately can leave residents with their necks cocked upwards dramatically.
As the custom installation world becomes more entrenched in areas such as lighting fixtures and power of ethernet, battlegrounds are developing between the worlds of low-voltage electronics and high-voltage electrical. The natural evolution of the technology has led integrators to expand into these growing areas, while electricians in many cases look to “protect their turf” by working to have local and state municipalities pass potentially restrictive laws against CE pros.
That’s when CEDIA’s often-unheralded role of advocacy for the industry becomes so important.
At the upcoming CEDIA Expo 2022 in Dallas, CEDIA will be holding its first-ever Advocacy Town Hall open to all attendees. At this breakfast event on Thursday, September 29, attendees are asked to come ready to share information and find out how they can work together with CEDIA to advocate for the industry. CEDIA CEO Daryl Friedman and director of government affairs joined the podcast to tell us more details.
Since it first debuted back in 2015, Snap One’s OvrC software has become the go-to solution for integrators to remotely manage the devices they install in their customers’ homes, but recent upgrades to the platform have morphed it into being a key operational tool as well. So, OvrC not only saves service truck rolls and valuable time, it has also become the basis of service plans for many integrators.
Indeed, according to the 2022 CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis Study, OvrC is used by 73% of the industry’s largest integrators. The system has become so ubiquitous that, on average, there are a whopping 110 devices connected per project to OvrC. That is 10X the number of connected devices for a DIY smart home, according to Evan Marty, director of product management at Snap One.
So with that deep level of penetration in place, when Snap One recently announced some important changes to OvrC, it was “kind of a big deal,” as anchorman Ron Burgundy might say.
Amazon’s Ring brand might have started out as more of a mainstream name than typical custom integration channel companies, but the security provider has been catching on with the professionals over the past several years.
Between its pioneering video doorbell, security cameras, smart lighting, security systems and more, Ring has made nice inroads with custom integrators and security providers. The company rolled out its Ring X Line of pro-channel exclusive doorbells, cameras and bundled solutions, showing its integration channel commitment, in addition to its Ring Alarm Pro offerings that have extended Ring’s reach.
In this week’s episode of the CE Pro Podcast, Todd Towey, national sales manager for Ring Installed Solutions, delved into details about the company’s latest solutions, its recent ONVIF camera compatibility news, cybersecurity measures and more.
The past couple of years have been extremely busy for electronics companies in the custom integration sector. Explaining how their respective companies have fared and how they are looking ahead, Vanco’s Frank Santos and Kaleidescape’s Tayloe Stansbury recently spoke to CE Pro.
In part one of this week’s CE Pro Podcast, Santos, who serves as director of training and product knowledge for Vanco, points out how the ongoing addition of 70-volt products to the company’s product line, including amplifiers and speakers is helping dealers serve commercial AV clients.
In part two, during the annual HTSA Spring Conference this year, Stansbury took time out of his day to talk to CE Pro about Kaleidescape’s current product line and its dealer support mechanisms.
There are numerous reasons why custom integrators end up partnering and selling products with various vendors. Could be the pricing or margins are great, the tech support is top-notch, or maybe certain companies’ reputations simply help sway a dealer’s decision.
The annual CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis takes a look at leading brands in more than 60 categories across the custom integration industry, and every year it gives a nice sense about what companies integrators gravitate toward throughout the channel.
We wanted to give a taste of what some of these leading brands and fast-rising “bullet” brands think about why their companies are a good match with integrators. In this week’s CE Pro Podcast, we spoke with a handful of leading brands to get their perspective: Sound United, focusing on Marantz; H-P Products; Yale Smart Residential; and RoseWater Energy Group.
You when you’ve been in the industry for decades, the institutional knowledge is solid gold. And the opportunity to have the information from those years of experience passed along to the next generation of integration company owners is priceless. With all the pressures facing CE pros today from supply chain to labor rates to company culture, worthy advice from someone who has seen it all and done it all is welcome indeed.
That’s where Franklin Karp comes in. After spending decades in the trenches, Karp is now sharing his sage advice with others through the formation of his own consulting company: Franklin Karp & Co. Karp started in the consumer electronics business when he was in college selling stereos. That evolved to a job in retail at Stereo Warehouse before moving Harvey Electronics, a high-end dedicated retailer that eventually expanded into custom installation. Harvey’s grew to $46 million in sales, including $21 million in custom installation during Karp’s long tenure. For the past decade he has been at Audio Video Systems in New York, dealing with vendors and affluent clientele.
There aren’t many brands in consumer electronics that match the 50-year legacy of Lenbrook brand PSB Speakers. The company’s humble beginnings can be traced back to when founder and chief designer Paul Barton was still a student in school.
Today, PSB Speakers is well-known for its product line that includes everything from subwoofers and in-wall speakers, to active speakers and reference-level floor-standing loudspeakers. Barton took time to reflect on his and the company’s legacy in this week’s CE Pro Podcast.
Whenever Sony announces a new home video product, the custom electronics industry takes notice. Certainly, when the company intros a trio of laser-based projectors Joel Silver, CEO and lead developer, Imaging Science Foundation (ISF); Jason Dustal of Murideo; and Robert Zohn, president and founder of Value Electronics, take notice.
Indeed, our resident “Video Guys” are welcomed back to the CE Pro Podcast to discuss the latest VPL-XW5000ES, VPL-XW6000ES and VPL-XW7000ES 4K laser projectors from Sony. In addition, they offer tips on how to optimize home environments for better AV experiences in this week’s episode.
Talk about going the extra mile to aid a worthy cause — how about 150+ extra miles, in a span of six days?
That’s what Chris Pinder accomplished this spring when he competed in the Marathon Des Sables to raise funds for Together For Cinema, the UK-based charitable organization that works with manufacturing sponsors and integrators to design and install theater rooms in children’s hospices.
He and Together For Cinema founder Ian Morrish, who like Pinder has gone above and beyond for the group, joined me on the CE Pro Podcast to go into details about this ultra-marathon endurance test, what it means for the group and the latest Together For Cinema updates and projects.
Lighting fixtures and lighting control can be used in a variety of ways, and savvy CE Pros can discuss benefits such as comfort, safety and security, convenience, curb appeal, energy efficiency and more. As Adam Domurad, VP of sales for integration firm Smart Home & HiFi by Mirarchi Electric, outlines in this week’s CE Pro Podcast episode, those benefits can be addressed through outdoor lighting just as much as indoor lighting.
The Hatfield, Pa.-based integrator discusses how Coastal Source landscape lighting – along with its outdoor audio – has been a boon to Smart Home & HiFi, especially when it comes to presenting prospects with peace of mind as a way to bolster their home’s security.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a single web portal where a custom integrator can do direct product comparisons when creating a project product list instead of having to open multiple browsers to view 10 different manufacturers’ websites? Well now there is. CEPro-iQ is a new portal that draws from the successful AV-iQ centralized database with hundreds of thousands of SKUs to display detailed product information for the residential integration industry.
CEPro-iQ also can create custom catalogs for integrators to embed on their own websites that drive them to top of the Google search rankings.
CEPro-iQ is born from AV-iQ, which has been around for 20 years in the commercial AV space and boasts 400,000 products from hundreds of brands. The site is used by not only integrators but by decision-maker end users seeking out solutions for their facilities, as well as by architects looking to build technology into their designs. Emerald, owners of CE Pro and the CEDIA Expo, purchased AV-iQ in 2021. AV-iQ business development lead Mark Loftus joined the CE Pro Podcast to chat with editor Jason Knott about the CEPro-iQ launch.
Paul Bochner, owner and president of Electronics Concepts in Rochelle Park, N.J., Steve Silberman, business development, audio for Savant, and Alex Camara, CEO of AudioControl, are bullish on the possibilities of well-designed whole-house AV, including outdoor systems.
In this CE Pro Podcast episode, the trio discuss the importance of system design, as well the proper choice of equipment during the engineering phases of whole-house system design for both indoor systems and outdoor systems. Camara also comments on AudioControl's acquisition by AAMP Global.
This is an especially challenging time to be running a custom installation business, but somehow Joseph Akhtarzad, president of Just One Touch/Video & Audio Center in Southern California, has found the magic formula. The company is one of the few that proactively markets custom installation through consumer media channels like TV and radio, while creating an efficient team structure with cross-trained technicians across all product categories.
So what makes Just One Touch/Video & Audio Center one of the perennial fixtures in the CE Pro 100 list, coming in at Number 5 for 2022? Akhtarzad, along the Tom Campbell, corporate director and chief technologist for the company, sat down with CE Pro discuss how they meld custom installation division (Just One Touch) with retail (Video & Audio Center).
Crestron’s Michael Short talks in-depth on why Crestron Home added fully tunable LED light fixtures, battery-powered motorized shades, multizone streaming preamplifier, in-wall subwoofer, and power management products.
Studies are delving into the health benefits of light, but there are also potential unhealthy elements from lighting and other electrical devices that integrators need to be aware of when they speak with clients. Maurizio Gaudio, CTO of Colorbeam, and Brian Hoyer, founder of Shielded Healing, are looking to enlighten integrators about the health benefits of light and discuss them with CE Pro's Jason Knott.
Jacob Whipple, product marketing manager, Snap One, discusses updates to the Control4 3.3.0 OS for whole-house controls, Triad’s new PDX architectural speakers, and Ryff whole-house audio platform.
A look at how the Premiere SAV joint venture deal came about and how the Jackson Hole, Wyo., branch will be structured and operated.
Eric Mercil, director of sales at cell signal booster provider SureCall, helps to outline potential 5G impact on integrators, detail types of 5G, highlight solutions, system design, speed testing demos and more.
Justin Clark of IP access control specialist DoorBird discusses how its highly customizable products cater to integrators and trade partners; new fingerprint reader solution; dealer support and more.
Paul Hales, owner, Pro Audio Technology and Theory Audio Design, is excited about dealers’ projects reflecting customers’ growing demand for audiophile performance.
Led by industry veterans Paul Starkey, Helen Heneveld and Mark Weisenberg, PrepTech identifies and trains new technicians for integrators.
Joel Silver of ISF, Murideo’s Jason Dustal and Value Electronics’ Robert Zohn discuss mini- LED, MicroLED and OLED; CES 2022; and standards for video system installations in rooms with ambient light.
Integrators are not necessarily creating channel conflict with electricians by supplying high-end line-voltage lighting fixtures on projects.
The annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was staged with the co-located Builders’ Show in Orlando, and our editorial roundtable recaps tech, design, wellness and more themes from the well-attended show.
Interest in home entertainment technologies remains high, but supply chain and chip shortage issues still dog the custom install industry. CE Pro’s “Audio Guys” discuss the trends affecting the market in 2022.
RoseWater Energy Group CEO Joe Piccirilli on how the SB20 all-in-one solution can set dealers apart, addressing power quality, energy storage, protection and more for mission-critical systems.
Shawn Hansson, CEO & founder of Lone Tree, Colo.-based Logic Integration shares keys to success in resi/commercial, garnering recent CTA & Commercial Integrator honors.
Samsung, Hisense, TCL, Z-Wave, Moen, SureCall and others came to Las Vegas for CES 2022 and did not disappoint for integrators.
Electronic Concepts’ Paul Bochner, Savant’s Steve Silberman and AudioControl’s Alex Camara discuss the growth of immersive music and their favorite products released in 2021 with CE Pro senior editor Robert Archer.
CE Pro’s expert video panel of Value Electronics’ Robert Zohn, ISF’s Joel Silver and Murideo’s Jason Dustal cover trends, favorite products and compelling demos.
Tom Hickman of Nationwide Marketing Group and Richard Glikes offer further insight into the recent merger of the two buying groups.
Attendees & vendor sponsors of Total Tech Summit tracks of CE, CI and SSI Summits enjoy return of the in-person elite event, best practices sharing, networking & more in Orlando, Fla.
Mid-Atlantic manufacturer’s rep NuTech Group guides integrator Bethesda Systems into outdoor lighting & audio via unique Coastal Source training, underscoring vendor-rep-dealer relationship.
Tributaries & Clarus Cable president Joe Perfito and renowned cable & power designer Jay Victor address why upgrading those areas can greatly impact audiophile hi-fi systems.
Jimmy Paschke & Vince Luciani of SurgeX discuss how to optimize power systems, implement UPS backup, remotely diagnose and troubleshoot; Squid & other products highlighted too.
Modular Design Construction (MDC) with streaming, Dirac highlight versatile NAD Electronics latest C 399 Hybrid Digital Amplifier & C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier.
Joel Silver, Jason Dustal and Robert Zohn enthusiastically embrace the home video market and the impact of HDMI 2.1.
Joel Silver, Jason Dustal and Robert Zohn discuss the HDMI 2.1 format, along with the CEDIA/CTA-RP28 Best Practices standard.
Family-owned Stereo Barn started in 1971, migrating from pure retail to custom installation. Community involvement has helped breed success.
Outgoing senior vice president of education & training Samantha Ventura takes a look at CEDIA’s successes and what lies ahead.
BlueDog Group's Scope & Budget Tool enables integrators to outsource proposals, design and documentation without over-hiring.
CE Pro Podcast features roundtable discussion from the CE Pro booth at CEDIA Expo 2021, covering exhibitors, technologies, show themes, education sessions and more.
Rob Tobias of HDMI Licensing talks lean-in vs. lean-back gaming, PC/console associated tech needs, esports and more.
President & CEO Randy Klein talks about Crestron’s health, why he won’t use ‘retirement’, how company culture feeds into ‘the customer experience’ and more.
CEDIA industry musicians discuss their backgrounds and how musicians such as Eddie Van Halen, Chick Corea and Paul McCartney influenced their taste and style.
Mitch Klein of Z-Wave Alliance and Silicon Labs joins the CE Pro Podcast to chat about the interoperability of the protocol and latest home and resimercial uses for integrators.
Anna Demeo of Savant Power, formerly known as Racepoint Energy prior to Savant’s recent acquisition of the company, joins the CE Pro Podcast to talk about how integrators facilitate intelligent energy management.
A detailed discussion about the living in place market and how to obtain a Home Accessibility Trade Specialist certification.
With supply chain shortages abounding, Sound United is serving the custom channel first and not funneling equipment to other channels.
CommScope Ruckus discusses Wi-Fi 6, the advent of wearables, Access Networks’ acquisition by Snap One and more.
Millson Technologies, Harrison Home Systems and World Premiere outline best practices for fellow integrators, and DMF Lighting shares manufacturer insights with CE Pro.
Resideo’s Scott Harkins outlines the company’s vision and the ‘democratization of the smart home’ using its Pro Series platform.
HDMI Licensing president & CEO Rob Tobias discusses great HDMI 2.1 gaming features, 4K & 8K display enhancements, cable testing & certification and more.
Together for Cinema founder Ian Morrish outlines latest charitable initiatives & how custom industry suppliers and integrators can get involved in the latest CE Pro Podcast episode.
CE Pro Brand Analysis leaders Sony, Yale Smart Residential, WaterCop & DoorBird highlight why their solutions resonate with CE Pro 100 and other dealers.
SnapAV executives GPaul Hess, Kenny Kim and Mike Jordan discuss keys to CE Pro Brand Analysis success and upcoming initiatives in myriad tech categories.
Shawn Romberg of Integrated AV in Oklahoma had a job go from 15 fixtures to 200, plus $100K+ in speakers/subwoofers, aided by a powerful Coastal Source lighting and audio demo. They tell CE Pro about it in this week’s CE Pro Podcast.
VP & product evangelist George Katsiris talks with CE Pro editor Jason Knott about Savant’s new 9.4 software release offers increased personalization and integration with streaming services.
M&A expert Ron Davis says going rates are 20X and 40X multiples for RMR, and 5X to 7X for EBITDA. Minimum of 10% net profit is a goal.
Nortek Control’s Jeff Shaw joins the CE Pro Podcast to cover the latest Elan, SpeakerCraft, BlueBOLT product news and more.
Google expands ‘Works with Google Assistant’ program while Allterco Robotics targets entry level with Shelly line of Wi-Fi solutions.
Ari Supran and Michael Bridwell share how Sonance’s ‘Beyond Sound’ messaging resonates with residential and commercial dealers, guides product development and more.
PowerHouse Alliance executive director Dennis Holzer highlights efforts the distributor’s 11 members and 50+ locations made over the past year, plus hot technologies dealers are capitalizing on.
Joel Silver of Imaging Science Foundation, Jason Dustal of Murideo and Robert Zohn of Value Electronics talk 4K, 8K, HDR, streaming & more.
Jason McGraw of CEDIA Expo owner Emerald and Visit Indy’s Morgan Snyder address health & safety protocols, travel plans and other adjustments to anticipate.
CE Pro checks in with integrator Electronic Concepts, AudioControl and Savant to discuss various audio categories and how to generate more adoption by Millennials and Gen Z.
Somfy offers certified drivers for Control4, Crestron, Savant, URC and Elan. Open-API motors enable integration with unique solutions.
Olibra is launching the Bond Bridge Pro hub this month that connects RF appliances like fans, shades and fireplaces to IP for smart home control integration.
While 2020 was an excellent year for outdoor installs, what can integrators do to parlay this success into 2021? Coastal Source’s Franco D’Ascanio offers advice on how to take on the outdoor audio and lighting market.
Panel of integrators review the past 12 months of deploying Crestron Home in the field and how it assisted their businesses during COVID-19.
Access Networks founder Hagai Feiner and CEO Bryce Nordstrand discuss the past, present & future of enterprise-grade home networking provider.
Organized by Katye Bennett of KMB Communications, the AV Yoga Club has grown steadily during the pandemic as industry members find balance between careers and home lives through yoga.
Are you doing enough to forge collaborative relationships with designers? George Harrison of Harrison Home Systems offers integrators some tips from his time in the field.
CEDIA’s Walt Zerbe joins the CE Pro Podcast to discuss wellness strategies, trends, CEDIA Propel, assistive living and much more.
Troy Morgan of PanTech Design discusses the Adapt Energy solution, how integrators can pitch energy automation, why it can be vital for customers and more.
Will 2021 be the year your company turns the tide on selling service? OneVision Resources’ Joey Kolchinsky & Jason Griffing outline the path to more profits.
Invisus, Security Funding Associates, and AvantGuard central station outline new blanket coverage Cybersecurity Defense Program.
Matt Montgomery of TYM Smart Homes & Home Theaters, Just Add Power’s Taft Stricklin and Cody Crossland of distributor BlackWire Designs shed light on dealing with VIPs.
Home Acoustics Alliance director Gerry Lemay joins the CE Pro Podcast to discuss the impact of acoustics and tools to tame rooms for stereo & home theater audio.
CE Pro 100 integration company Desert Valley AV makes strategic acquisition in another state, plus adds electrical and lighting design divisions.
Tony Ostrom, president of the Wireless Speaker & Audio (WiSA) Association, discusses product happenings and why integrators should be excited about wireless AV installs.
HDMI Forum president David Glen talks about Ultra High Speed cable certification; enhanced gaming and video features; PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X releases; and more.
In an interview that took place just prior to the CEDIA Expo Virtual event, Mark Corbin, president of Vanco, discussed HDMI 2.1 and the challenges of doing business in 2020.
D-Tools chief marketing officer Tim Bigoness discusses the latest updates to its System Integrator and Cloud tools, how CEDIA Expo Virtual went and plans heading into 2021.
Todd Towey, national account manager for Ring installed solutions, highlights CEDIA Expo Virtual takeaways, X Line, new Access Controller, indoor drone and more.
Industry’s Got Talent guests Kevin Main of Torus Power and John Baskerville of One Firefly discuss how they got into martial arts, plus its mental, physical and career benefits.
SureCall’s VP of Sales Frankie Smith discusses with CE Pro how the work-from-home environment has given a ‘boost’ to cellphone signal boosters.
CE Pro editors share initial impressions following the 3-day CEDIA Expo Virtual platform with pros/cons, exhibitor favorites, education session thoughts & other shoutouts.
Executives Jim Mayo and Mark Quiroz detail how new products like The Terrace outdoor TV bolster Samsung’s Wall, Frame and other versatile residential & commercial solutions.
The CEDIA Expo Virtual Experience, set for Sept. 15-17, will be capped by a return engagement from the CE Pro All-Star Band comprising talented industry players.
CEDIA Expo associate show director Ashley Sprengnether takes attendees through cediaexpo.com highlighting how to find education, events, exhibitors and more.
Among the 50+ classes offered during the CEDIA Expo Virtual Experience, Sept. 15-17 2020, are HDMI 2.1, AV-over-IP, resimercial projects and leadership.
Trio of industry experts discuss why so many integrators are still not deploying quality networks, despite the emphasis from COVID-19.
In addition to knowing her way around a Crestron system, Kim Lancaster is a passionate foodie and wine aficionado who supports her local Rhode Island farms and fisheries.
CEDIA’s Samantha Ventura and Desiree Friedman join us to highlight details, navigation, education modules and much more about the revamped website and online learning tools.
PureTech Alliance of reps tells CE Pro why the wellness trend is ready to take off, and which categories are set for growth.
Cullen Harwood of Sonos explains the process the popular audio company employed to develop its new Dolby Atmos compatible Arc soundbar and its S2 OS.
Aggressive Home Automation’s Nick Tamburri recalls how being in the Bon Jovi inner circle influenced his CI business. In segment 2, Yamaha explains how it’s maintained its distribution network amid coronavirus pandemic.
Power trio of Frank Sterns, Tom Doherty and Jeremy Burkhardt break down surprisingly first six months of 2020 and offer cautious outlook for rest of year.
Bowers & Wilkins resurgence in marketshare being driven by restructured sales channels. Sound United buyout proposal still moving along.
Taking advantage of its integrator perspective, Canadian firm HomeSync started Clara Shades to seize more opportunities with builders, developers and first-time homebuyers.
In addition to clients that include AudioControl, Bryston and Savant, the industry veteran is also a rocker-turned singer/songwriter, and recently released his latest record, ‘Rockville.’
D-Tools’ chief marketing officer talks about his passion for music and drums, plus opportunities for integrators as we slowly phase out of quarantine protocols.
Imaging Science Foundation’s Joel Silver discusses new video calibration coursework, improvement of streaming video image quality, infrastructure issues and more.
CE Pro is showcasing some of the talents and hobbies of industry members with a new segment, Industry’s Got Talent.
CE Pro Podcast panel says integrators should focus on smaller, immediate voice control, video surveillance and wellness as the top potential upgrade areas.
Access Networks’ Hagai Feiner gets integrators up to speed on networking and cybersecurity needs, and AudioControl’s Alex Camara discusses how to cultivate top-notch support services.
FulTech Solutions’ Dan Fulmer shares insights on implementing team member precautions, doing commercial jobs, weighing residential tech demand and more amid COVID-19 outbreak.
CEDIASTRONG initiative formed to help integrators navigate through the coronavirus pandemic, plus details on outdoor installations and concert DVD recommendations.