At Audilux, we make it a point to take a few days off and make a pilgrimage to CEDIA Expo every year.
We do this for a couple of reasons; of course, it’s essential to stay up to date on the latest trends in the space, but I also want to make sure the vendor and product selections we offer our customers are the best available.
It can be easy to keep repeating the same thing and not realize what you’re missing out on.
The agenda usually consists of visiting our existing vendors and seeing what’s new, and then going to all their competitors to see what other experiences might be like. This year, we focused on attending demo spaces for new brands, and there were a few great surprises. I also came home more confident than ever with most of our product offerings.
Now that the dust has settled, here are a few standout observations we made at CEDIA Expo 2024.
#1 – JVC’s new projector demo was jaw-dropping
We attended the JVC Projector demonstration, featuring several new models. The first few scenes looked great from the get-go, and the room was shocked when the presenter explained we were actually watching their new entry-level laser projector, the NZ-500 ($5999).
Halfway through the presentation, they switched to their flagship model, the NZ-900, which I could only describe as staggering. JVC has taken the lead with this latest crop of projectors at both the entry-level and high-end price points.
JVC even had a dedicated demo room showing the flagship Sony model directly beside the NZ-900.
It wasn’t even close.
Point. JVC.
#2 – Epson was illuminating
The Epson demo was also exciting for some different reasons. They seem to be focused on offering models with outsized lighting output, starting at an impressive 3300 lumens and going up to 10,000 lumens on their flagship model.
They seem to have made it their mission to defy conditional wisdom and install massive projection systems even in the brightest spaces.
The entry-level model, the QB-1000 , will be a sweet spot for many installations. It’s 30% brighter than the new JVC, and in rooms with any ambient light, it should be a home run at the price point ($7999).
I could see us giving this projector a home in lots of mixed-use spaces, or if a customer just want’s extremely vibrant HDR.
#3 – Theory Audio Design / Pro Audio Technology
Paul Hales of Theory Audio Design & Pro Audio Technology had a very impressive space in a listening room downstairs. They had a fun element of having tons of speakers placed around the room and then using spotlights to show what you had been listening to after each segment.
It harkened back to the old days of Bose demonstrations, where you hear something so big, only to discover it’s coming from the tiniest of packages.
Of course, unlike Bose, Theory’s speakers were sonically fantastic.
The secret sauce is proprietary DSP processing that extracts every ounce of performance out of each of their speakers.
They only have a few different speaker models, but they are adaptable to all kinds of housings depending on what installation application you’re looking for.
The ceiling speaker could transform into a landscape bollard, pendant, etc.
Very Cool.
#4 – Ambisonic should be the soundtrack to your outdoor oasis.
Ambisonic’s outdoor speakers were our first big surprise at the Expo.
We’ve been installing some fantastic landscape speakers over the last few years, and our clients have always been elated with the results.
But….. Ambisonic’s Planar Ribbons are quite simply a cut above. The focused sound and even sound dispersion are to die for, and their tiny size would allow them to blend into the most sensitive design.
Sign me up.
#5 – Nice keeps getting Nicer
Our control platform of choice, Nice Home Management (formerly Elan), is at the heart of our installations.
During this Expo, we took the time to examine everything offered by the other platforms. After a visit to each booth, my lead technician remarked that the Nice touch panels felt like an iPad compared to what felt like an old Android at some of the other booths.
I couldn’t agree more.
Nice showed their next-generation touch panels, controllers, and a new door station. They also previewed their latest software updates. I’m looking forward to putting them to work in the coming year.
To be fair, both Crestron and Savant also had a very robust offering, but I don’t feel we are missing out on anything. Nice offers a much better value proposition and superior performance, which is a win for our clients.
What were your favorite finds at CEDIA this year? Did anything surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!