Simplified Service: Advanced Settings & System Test.

We are introducing Precision System Testing, an upgraded system test mode allows a contractor to isolate and engage every individual component with a single tap. We are giving your techs full access to advanced settings directly on the wall. These settings are available right there during the initial setup, and remain accessible post-install. This means your techs can service and troubleshoot the system completely independently—no need to rely on the homeowner’s device or app ever again.

Unlock the full potential of high-end systems.

The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is now compatible with up to 3 stages of heat and 3 cool for conventional systems, or up to 5H 3C for heat pumps and hybrid heat, including multi-stage aux heat, delivering quieter operation, better dehumidification, and smoother heating transitions in high-end equipment.

Designed to drive leads.

HVAC System Health Monitor (previously HVAC monitoring) is a popular feature with customers – and a big opportunity for your business. It looks out for issues, tracks performance over time, and lets customers know when something might be wrong.^1,2

Questions? Get in touch at info@nestprorep.com.

LEGAL

¹ List of eligible HVAC systems is available at g.co/nest/hvac-monitoring. Alerts can notify users of a potential issue with an eligible HVAC system. They’re meant to provide helpful information, not an endorsement, representation, or warranty of any kind about the health of an HVAC system. HVAC System Health Monitor is only available to registered Nest Pros. A person with legal signing authority for the Pro company can register for a Pro ID at g.co/nestpro. HVAC system alerts will surface the information of a Pro company if the Pro company is enrolled in HVAC System Health Monitor and a Pro ID is entered on the thermostat.
² Pro assistance is only available in eligible areas. Nest Pros are independent third-party contractors who provide HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair services.

The post The 4th Gen Nest Learning Thermostat: Updated for Pros Like You appeared first on CEPRO.

• Brilliant Max is a new subscription service that adds managed automation, system optimization, premium support, and subscriber benefits to Brilliant smart homes.
• The service introduces pre-configured automation Modes that simplify smart home management, with Away and Vacation Modes available now and Home and Night Modes planned.
• Brilliant positions the offering as a recurring revenue opportunity for integrators by creating an ongoing managed service for homeowners.

Brilliant NextGen has introduced Brilliant Max, a subscription service designed to transform its smart home platform into a managed automation experience for homeowners.

The new offering builds on the company’s existing hardware platform by adding pre-configured automations, continuous system optimization, premium customer support, hardware upgrade opportunities, and subscriber-exclusive benefits, including a complimentary smart home sensor.

According to Brilliant, the service is intended to reduce the complexity often associated with configuring and maintaining connected home systems by delivering automation through preset “Modes” that coordinate devices across the Brilliant ecosystem. At launch, those include Away Mode and Vacation Mode, while Home Mode and Night Mode are planned for a future release.

“Consumers don’t want another system to manage—they want a home that simply works for them,” said Jonathan Temlock, president and CEO of Brilliant NextGen, in the announcement. “Our Brilliant Max service represents the next evolution of the smart home.”

The company says the subscription is designed to address common smart home challenges, including fragmented ecosystems, complicated setup processes, unreliable automations, and ongoing maintenance requirements. Brilliant describes the service as a “set it and forget it” experience that automatically manages connected devices through its intelligent Modes.

Each subscription includes a Shelly Bluetooth Door/Window Sensor, with optional Shelly Bluetooth Motion Sensors available separately to expand occupancy monitoring and enable additional automation scenarios. Brilliant says integrations with select Shelly devices increase the intelligence and reach of its automation platform.

Homeowner and Installer Benefits

For homeowners, Brilliant Max offers intelligent automation, proactive notifications, remote home awareness, premium customer support, and opportunities to upgrade older Brilliant Controls. The company says the service can help improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and simplify management of connected devices.

Brilliant also positions the subscription as a recurring revenue opportunity for professional installers, integrators, electricians, and security dealers. The company says the managed service model enables partners to extend customer relationships beyond the initial installation while potentially reducing post-install support requirements.

“Smart home professionals have been searching for ways to build recurring revenue while improving customer satisfaction,” Temlock said. “This service allows our partners to deliver a premium experience that works automatically from day one while creating long-term value for both the homeowner and themselves.”

Brilliant Max is available immediately through authorized Brilliant partners.

The post Brilliant Launches Subscription Service for Managed Smart Home Automation appeared first on CEPRO.

CE Pro surveyed residential technology integrators across the country about their home entertainment business in 2025, covering everything from dedicated theaters and distributed audio to large-format video, lighting integration and the emerging role of AI-driven automation. The results paint a picture of a market that is maturing in interesting ways. The dedicated home theater is giving ground to more flexible, multipurpose spaces. Video walls are moving from commercial lobbies into living rooms. Clients are arriving educated about streaming but needing guidance on what immersive actually means. And the integrators who are thriving are the ones who figured out that the real opportunity is not any single product category, it is the lifetime of the home.

For perspective behind the numbers, CE Pro spoke with three experienced integrators: Anthony Petrone of Petrone Technology Group in Wellington, Fla.; Dan Abramson of Simple Home in Boston; and David Botknecht of HW Automation. Their markets are different and their approaches reflect those differences, but the fundamentals are consistent.

CE Pro Survey Sees Steady Confidence in Market for Home Entertainment Installations

The CE Pro survey responders are an experienced group, with nearly 57% of companies having been in business for more than 20 years, and more than two-thirds classify themselves as custom integration firms. These are established businesses with long client relationships and deep category expertise.

Revenue trends in 2025 were mixed but not discouraging. About 41% of respondents said home entertainment revenue held roughly flat year over year, and just under 18% reported a moderate decline. But 41% reported increases, with 8% seeing significant growth of 21% or more. Looking ahead, the mood shifts with more than half of respondents expecting growth over the next 12 months, with 18% forecasting significant increases.

Those surveyed indicate that large-format TV installations are clearly on the rise, with 64% of integrators reporting an increase in volume in 2026. Media rooms and multipurpose spaces are growing as well. Meanwhile, dedicated home theater installations and the use of projection systems are declining for nearly 30% of integrators. The most common average project budget falls in the $25,000 to $50,000 range, though more than 20% of respondents report averages of $100,000 or more.

For Anthony Petrone, whose Wellington-area firm has been in business 25 years, the market’s rhythm is something he has learned to read.

“This industry is kind of an up-and-down industry,” Petrone said. “You get peaks and valleys, but at the end of the year, we stay pretty consistent, and we’ve been fortunate to grow steadily over time. You learn to read the market, plan for the swings and make sure your team and your clients are taken care of regardless of where the cycle is.”

David Botknecht, whose operation spans 47 employees and three offices statewide, points to something broader driving the current momentum.

“Not a day goes by that I’m not particularly surprised about what somebody might have contracted to upgrade their home,” Botknecht said. “There’s a real energy around the home right now. People who bought three, four, five years ago and don’t want to sell, and who don’t want a new mortgage in this rate environment, they’re looking at their home and deciding to make it the best it can be. They’re investing in the experience of being there. And that translates directly into bigger entertainment budgets, more ambitious projects and clients who are genuinely excited about what technology can do for their space. That’s a meaningful driver for our business right now, and I don’t see it slowing down.”

The Dedicated Home Theater Gives Way to the Flex Space

Perhaps the single biggest structural shift in the data is the declining role of the dedicated home theater and the rise of what integrators are calling the flex space. More than 23% of survey respondents installed zero dedicated theaters in the past 12 months. Among those who did, the majority completed just one to five.
The volume lives elsewhere.

“More than 90% of our big-room installs are multipurpose rooms,” Petrone said. “The dedicated home theaters are fewer and far between. The recent upgrade trends in technology include bigger displays, in-wall subs, and distributed audio systems that don’t take up too much real estate. A lot of people don’t have a space where they can dedicate to a home theater, so they opt for a mixed-use space, or they move toward developing a more immersive environment throughout their home.”

Dan Abramson sees the same shift in Boston’s high-end market and frames it in generational terms. Clients who built dream homes 20 or 30 years ago often put a dedicated theater on the list. Younger buyers today want flexible, adaptable spaces, and as larger displays and video wall technology have begun crossing into residential price ranges, the notion of what a flex space can deliver has expanded considerably.

“It’s moving away from the home theater dedicated space and into the flex space,” Abramson said. “We’re seeing the market opening up to even bigger screens with video walls. With a flex space, you might not have a projector, but you can certainly have a video wall. And with a video wall, you can do a lot of things; gaming, simulations, not just watching TV.”

The market data on displays supports this. Large-format TVs were cited by 82% of respondents as a top video demand category, more than double the next closest category. OLED and mini-LED panels each appear in about 23% of projects, and art and design TVs were cited by nearly 39% as a demand driver. The 65- to 85-inch screen size range leads at 41%, but 33% of integrators say their most common projects involve screens 120 inches or larger.

The counterpoint comes from Botknecht, who sees something different at the highest end of his market. A client at a $2 million home recently spent more than $300,000 converting a room into a dedicated cinema.

“I think there’s more gathering going on,” he said. “I think there’s more of a desire to have a decent home theater experience. Home theaters got a little stale for a while because the big box stores may have cheapened what we as integrators were trying to do, but I think people now realize there’s a much cleaner, better and really impactful and impressive experience available to them. And they want it.”

Audio Is Everywhere, and It Starts With Wi-Fi

If there is one category that cuts across every market segment and price point in the survey, it is audio. Architectural in-ceiling speakers were cited by nearly 90% of respondents as a top-demand category, making them the most commonly specified product type by a wide margin. Outdoor landscape speakers followed at 69%, soundbars and subwoofers each at 56%, and invisible speakers at 41%. Music listening was cited by 97% of integrators as a primary distributed audio application, followed by outdoor entertainment at 72%, whole-home synchronization at 56%, and audio designed for parties and events at 54%.

What the numbers do not capture is where many of these conversations begin. In Petrone’s Wellington market, the entry point for a surprising number of engagements is not audio, it’s networking. Large equestrian properties where cell coverage is weak have made whole-property Wi-Fi coverage a functional necessity. This network and coverage have become a natural gateway to everything else.

“We’re seeing more and more clients come in asking to upgrade their Wi-Fi first,” Petrone said. “Putting access points in, making the network bigger, more robust and more reliable across the whole property. In our market, that means not just the residence but the barn, the riding arenas, the guest quarters, the whole property covered under one unified Wi-Fi umbrella.”

He added that the network conversation rarely ends there.

“Once we get in there and solve that problem, the conversation naturally expands,” he said. “It becomes, ‘Oh, can you do something with the speakers? What about the outdoor areas?’ We’ve found that networking is often the entry point into a much broader home entertainment engagement. And frankly, if the networking isn’t right, nothing else we install is going to perform the way it should.”

Abramson described what happens when that infrastructure conversation gets skipped. He recounted a call from a homeowner who had just completed a high-end condo renovation in Boston, a home that cost well over a million dollars, only to find the TVs kept freezing and video calls were dropping. The problem was outdated cabling and a modem stuffed in a kitchen cabinet, with no structured wiring plan in sight.

“The biggest challenge is trade partners and design partners that are building these homes and not taking the time to educate themselves on the infrastructure required in today’s market to support any of these entertainment needs,” he said. “You cannot replace architectural immersive audio with plug-in speakers. You cannot deliver a consistent, reliable 4K experience on Wi-Fi. And you’re not going to get immersive home theater from a soundbar. A proper home network infrastructure needs to be on par with electrical and plumbing in today’s new builds.”

Abramson sits on a National Association of Home Builders committee and raises this issue at every opportunity, pressing the case for low-voltage planning before the walls close. On the audio product side, both he and Petrone noted that clients often arrive asking for a specific brand by name rather than a performance specification; and that the integrator’s job is to educate from that starting point toward architectural speakers, properly placed subwoofers and, where the room calls for it, full Atmos configurations.

Tech That’s Moving the Needle

The technology impact rankings from the survey tell an interesting story. Dolby Atmos led by a wide margin, cited by 68% of respondents. AI-powered control and automation came in second at 34%, followed by video walls and MicroLED at 29%, with Wi-Fi 7 and spatial audio each at 26%. Technologies that were once considered commercial-only are now entering the residential market, driven by falling prices and improved installation methods.

“Why purchase a 100-inch screen when you can build a 150-inch video wall?” Botknecht said. “The little 4-by-four-inch panels interconnect seamlessly and go together like a precision Lego set. Before you know it, you have an image that will just blow your mind. And what used to cost a quarter of a million dollars can now be achieved for $60,000 to $70,000. The technology has come a long way, and the price point is finally starting to make sense for the residential market.”

Abramson sees a parallel shift in what clients are willing to seek out and pay for: a renewed interest in quality over convenience. After years in which streaming made people less attentive to how things actually sounded and looked, he described conversations at an industry conference where integrators talked about selling rooms with a light switch on the wall, a shade that drops by hand and a turntable in the corner. The ritual and feel of physical media as something streaming simply cannot replicate.

“People are remembering what it’s like to be dazzled,” Abramson said. “Streaming is so convenient that people are actually starting to crave something more intentional. There’s a ritual to putting on a record, setting a mood, being present in the experience. As more millennials build their first dream home, we’re seeing that nostalgia translate into real buying decisions. They want quality. They want performance. That appreciation kind of faded for a few years, but it’s clearly coming back.”

On the topic of AI, the survey found that nearly 69% of integrators say clients are not yet asking for AI features by name, and all three of our interviewed integrators confirmed this. But all three also noted that AI is already embedded in what they install, from automation platforms that set lighting and music scenes simultaneously to calibration tools that tune a room without a technician. Clients simply do not call it AI. The consensus is that adoption in home entertainment will follow the same path as architectural audio and lighting control: integrators will introduce clients to it before clients know to ask for it.

The Business of Home Entertainment: Service, Challenges and What’s Next

Nearly 64% of survey respondents offer service plans or recurring support. Remote monitoring and network management lead the recurring revenue categories at 64% and 61%, respectively, followed by system updates at 44% and service contracts at 31%.

Abramson made recurring revenue the centerpiece of his forward view, arguing that integrators who walk away after a system install are leaving the most durable revenue on the table.

“The biggest untapped opportunity in this business is recurring revenue,” Abramson said. “Too many integrators feel it’s expected of them to service a customer for the lifetime of their electronics without charging for it, and I understand where that instinct comes from. But no other service business operates that way. What we’re working toward is a model where clients subscribe to a level of care that keeps their systems performing beautifully over time. A modest monthly fee gives us the resources to be proactive, to catch issues before they become problems and to be genuine long-term partners in how our clients live in their homes.”

Petrone is formalizing his own recurring model through a managed services partnership that handles first-level support and escalates advanced issues to his team.

“I don’t want somebody to reach out to us at 7:00 pm on a Friday night and not be able to get a hold of anyone,” Petrone said. “So, we’ve partnered with a managed services provider that handles that first point of contact, answers basic questions and triages the issue before it ever gets to us. If the issue needs our attention, we’re looped in. If it doesn’t, the client is still taken care of. We don’t have many service calls because I believe we do great work, but having that layer of support in place means our clients are never left waiting, and our team isn’t burning out trying to be available around the clock.”

Beyond recurring revenue, the survey and interviews point to three persistent challenges:

• Unlicensed competition. The trunk slammer problem remains a persistent frustration across the industry: unlicensed installers who undercut professional integrators on price and leave clients with no warranty, no service relationship and work that frequently does not meet local licensing requirements. In many states, running wire inside a wall requires a contractor’s license, a requirement that is routinely ignored and one that undermines the credibility and pricing of legitimate firms.
• Trade partner education. The lack of low-voltage infrastructure planning in new construction is a problem no amount of skilled integration can fix after the walls close. The solution requires getting in front of architects, designers and builders early, through continuing education programs, industry associations and persistent relationship-building, and making the case that network backbone and low-voltage roughing are not optional amenities but basic requirements of a modern home.
• Labor. Finding qualified technicians remains a persistent post-COVID challenge across the industry. The work is specialized, the training pipeline is thin and the applicant pool has not kept pace with demand, leaving even well-established firms struggling to scale when business conditions call for it.

The integrators navigating those challenges most successfully share a philosophy. They got into the home early, built trust with design partners and positioned themselves not as installers of equipment but as long-term partners in how their clients live.

“We’re not just there for the life cycle of a project,” Abramson said. “We’re there for the lifetime of the home. The technology will change, the clients’ needs will evolve, their families will grow and their expectations will rise. Our job is to grow with them. When we get that right, we’re not just a vendor they called once. We become part of how they live. That’s the relationship we’re building toward, and honestly, it’s what makes this business worth doing.”

The post Home Entertainment Installations Hold Steady in 2025, With Integrators Bullish on What Comes Next appeared first on CEPRO.

To quote Conrad directly: “The lasting value is going to be in what surrounds the model in a real home, the hardware that can converse with quality across every room, the system that already knows the shape of a home and the way a family lives in it, the connectivity to reach the speakers, services and devices that turn a request into coordinated action. That’s the operating environment for AI in the home, and Sonos has spent 20 years building it.”

What Else Is Known About the Sonos September Launch

The only other hint that’s been given on the new release’s direction is that Conrad specifically called out “conversational computing” and “predictive intelligence,” pointing expectations in the direction of AI being used to control and curate, likely leveraging the company’s existing voice assistant.

Janko Roettgers, in writing for his newsletter, Lowpass, seems to think there’s a possibility that this could extend into controlling other smart home products, but the evidence that exists for that today remains limited, with Philips Hue bulbs being the only major smart device able to be controlled through Sonos Voice Control exclusively.

Why Integrators Should Take Notice

Sonos’s push towards “conversational computing” comes at a time when others in the channel (like Josh.ai and Savant) are gunning for that same capability on their own platforms.

Of course, in an era of interoperability within the professional smart home sphere, one must wonder if at some point a Sonos-powered AI voice assistant may one day be used as a bridge to control other components of a smart home. For that matter: what does predictive intelligence mean for audio?

The September timing is interesting, given CEDIA Expo will be taking place then, however, given the nature of how this information was disseminated, it’s likely the September timing of the announcement is more a coincidence than a possible Expo reveal.

The post Sonos Is Reportedly Planning Something Big for AI in September appeared first on CEPRO.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in New Jersey, Bond has built a brand-agnostic connectivity platform that brings everyday home equipment such as interior and exterior shades, ceiling fans, fireplaces, and landscape lighting into the connected home.

Through its bridges, app, and growing ecosystem of accessories and integration partners, Bond has established itself as a leader in reliable, plug-and-play commissioning, particularly for the outdoor segment.

“By bringing together Somfy’s decades of leadership in motorization and automation with Bond’s expertise in connectivity, we’re accelerating a shared ambition: making smart shading effortless, interoperable, and accessible everywhere,” said Sébastien Picot, CEO of Somfy Group.

What’s Next for Bond and Somfy Group

Bond will keep operating independently, led by its existing leadership and team, with continuity for its customers, fabricators, dealers, and integration partners.

Joining Somfy, the company says it provides backing and resources to keep investing in the platform, the team, and the roadmap that have made Bond successful, supported by the scale, strength, and long-term commitment of a global group.

“Somfy’s global reach, deep industry expertise, and commitment to openness will allow us to accelerate and scale innovation while expanding the value we deliver to customers and partners,” said Zohar Shinar, CEO of Olibra.

“With Somfy’s support and technology, we will leverage the connected home to enhance the overall motorization experience and create greater value for end users, dealers, and fabricators.”

“We believe deeply in the future of the connected home in North America, and in making smart shading solutions every homeowner can adopt with confidence,” said Yilmaz Ozturan, President & CEO, Somfy Systems Inc.

Why Integrators Should Take Note

This alliance strengthens Somfy’s footprint in North America and underscores the Group’s conviction in the long-term potential of the smart shading market.

The post Olibra LLC, Owner of Bond, Joins Somfy Group appeared first on CEPRO.

“At KEF, we have always aimed to redefine the listening experience and make it truly inspiring. LS LUXE is that vision realized,” said Grace Lo, President & Head of Global Marketing at KEF.

A Closer Look at the New LS Luxe Speakers from KEF

At its core, the LS LUXE uses KEF’s 12th-generation 6.5-inch Uni-Q driver found in speakers like the LS50. Going into greater detail, KEF also says that the Uni-Q assembly has been mechanically decoupled with a flexible chassis to isolating vibration and maintain the integrity of the original audio.

Accompanying MAT Technology works to absorb 99% of unwanted rear sound from the tweeter to virtually eliminate distortion—delivering a wider sweet spot, exceptionally low coloration, and an immersive, natural listening experience.

New to the LS LUXE, however, is what KEF is calling Velocity Control Technology (VECO). A patent-pending innovation, VECO technically first appeared in the XIO soundbar, making LS LUXE the first set of speakers to feature it. According to KEF, VECO is described as a closed-loop system that uses a velocity sensor to monitor the Uni-Q driver in real time, feeding data instantly to a custom amplifier that corrects any movement inconsistencies.

All of these features are then backed up by KEF’s proprietary Music Integrity Engine (MIE), which uses finely tuned DSP algorithms to maintain definition and exceptional performance as amplifiers work harder.

KEF also claims the LS LUXE is easy to set up, being configurable through KEF Connect App.

LS LUXE Specifications

Moving beyond hardware and into raw specs, KEF states the LS LUXE combines a 100W Class AB and 280W Class D current-drive amplifier per speaker with a frequency range of 35 Hz – 47 kHz and frequency response of 42 Hz – 28 kHz depending on the EQ settings.

The speakers reportedly support high-fidelity, lossless formats up to 24-bit/384kHz and multi-room audio throughout the home, being built on KEF’s W2 Wireless Platform. This also gives users direct access to services such as Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer, and more, directly from their native apps via Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, QPlay, AirPlay or Google Cast.

LS LUXE also supports a wide range of wired connections including HDMI eARC, analogue, optical and coaxial. Each speaker includes a dedicated subwoofer output, and users can even stream from local NAS drives or music servers, supporting lossless formats up to 24-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD.

Finishes and Accessories

The LS LUXE is available in three colorways: Dusk Titanium, Eclipse Black, and Mineral White. Each speaker also comes with the C3 Remote for manual control. Optional S-LUXE floor stands offer integrated cable management for a clean, professional look while the K-Stream interspeaker cable allows high-resolution audio transfer with up to 8 meters of placement flexibility. The KW1 wireless subwoofer adapter kit enables a completely cable-free connection between LS LUXE and KEF subwoofers.

Why Integrators Should Take Note

Continuing KEF’s collaboration with visionary designer Ross Lovegrove, LS LUXE carries forward a legacy of icons, including Muon, Mu headphones, and the Muo portable speaker with its sculptural appearance hiding away some of KEF’s most advanced accoustic technologies to date.

 Pricing and Availability

The LS LUXE will be available for $3,999.99. Date of release has yet to be disclosed.

The post KEF Launches LS LUXE Luxury Wireless Speakers appeared first on CEPRO.

In his new role at Sutherland AV Marketing, Goldman will work closely with dealers, integrators and home cinema designers across the U.S. and Canada to grow ASCENDO’s dealer network while supporting existing partners with sales, training and technical resources.

About Mark Goldman

Goldman boasts over three decades of experience spanning luxury retail, custom integration, manufacturing and executive sales leadership with a combination of technical expertise, business knowledge and long-standing industry relationships Sutherland AV says leaves him well suited for the position of Sales VP.

“Mark is one of the most respected professionals in our industry, and I knew he was the ideal person for this role,” said Sutherland. “He has earned the trust of dealers, manufacturers, and integrators over decades through his integrity, product knowledge, and dedication to helping partners succeed. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.”

Goldman’s career began at Sound Components in Coral Gables, Florida, where he founded the company’s custom integration division. He later served as Director of Sales for Wilson Audio Specialties before acquiring Sound Components and operating the company for 20 years. Under his leadership, Sound Components became one of the nation’s premier high-performance audio dealers and, at the time, the largest Wisdom Audio dealer in the United States.

After selling Sound Components, Goldman joined AUDIOVISIONS in Los Angeles, one of the country’s leading luxury residential technology integration firms, in an executive leadership role. He later became Vice President of Sales for PRO Audio Technology, where he helped expand the company’s presence among the industry’s top custom integrators.

During his tenure, he collaborated on the design of numerous reference-level Dolby and DCI-certified theaters and provided hands-on calibration. He also played a key role in establishing PRO Audio Technology’s partnership with the HTSA buying group.

 About ASCENDO

ASCENDO has earned worldwide recognition for challenging conventional loudspeaker design through engineering-first innovation and uncompromising performance. From its reference point-source loudspeakers and cardioid technologies to the industry’s most comprehensive lineup of infrasonic subwoofers, ASCENDO designs immersive audio systems that deliver extraordinary dynamics, precision, and realism.

Combined with transparent engineering practices, complete published performance measurements, and a purpose-built approach to private cinema, ASCENDO has become the brand of choice for the world’s most ambitious home theater projects.

The post Mark Goldman Joins Sutherland AV Marketing as ASCENDO Vice President of Sales appeared first on CEPRO.

For the month of April, PMA broke down the Top 5 lists by three different projector categories. For the relevancy of CE Pro readers, this article will look at some of the top projectors in the professional installation and ultra-short throw categories.

What Are the Top Selling Projectors Among Professional Installers?

According to PMA, the data collected for these rankings pulls from IT, Pro AV and CEDIA distributors, focusing exclusively on the projectors that are selling among professional installers in both residential and commercial settings.

As of April 2026, the top five models in terms of sales are:

1. Sony VPL-FHZ85
2. Sharp/NEC XP-A824U
3. Epson EB-PU1008
4. Sony VPL-FHZ80
5. Panasonic PT-MZ882

Additionally, PMA looked at the top selling ultra-short throw (UST) projectors based on sales data from U.S. retailers, web resellers and custom installers. Here’s how those listings look:

1. Epson EpiqVision LS800
2. LG PU615U CineBeam S
3. Epson Lifestudio Grand EH-LS670
4. YABER K300s
5. Optoma GT3500HDR

Why Integrators Should Take Note

CE Pro will do an annual look at brand performance through its CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis rankings, in addition to analyzing which brands feature the most in CE Pro’s annual Home of the Year Awards, though these look at broader brands instead of the individual products.

Within both the CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis, as well as the Home of the Year Awards, Sony features heavily, having a 79% use rate for its projectors among the top 100 integrators in the custom installation channel. Epson, meanwhile, placed second with a 52% use rate among professional installers.

What’s noteworthy, however, is the presence of Sharp and Panasonic in these rankings, as neither brand made an appearance in the initial brand analysis, potentially indicating a broader market appeal for those two products outside of the window provided by the CE Pro 100.

Additionally, with the ultra-short throw projectors, the fact that the data pulls from both retail sales and custom installers gives a unique insight into consumer buying preferences as opposed to recommendations being made by installers.

The post Here Are Some of the Top-Selling Projectors Today (According to PMA Research) appeared first on CEPRO.

More Information on the ELAC, Firstech Partnership

ELAC stands as one of the world’s most respected names in premium audio. Founded in Germany in 1926, ELAC has spent a century advancing loudspeaker technology through precision engineering, industry-leading innovation and uncompromising craftsmanship.

“ELAC has always been committed to delivering exceptional audio experiences through products that combine innovative engineering with outstanding performance,” said Joe Riggi, President, ELAC Americas Inc.

“Appointing Firstech Canada as our Master Distributor reflects our confidence in their ability to represent the ELAC brand and provide the level of support, inventory, and market expertise our Canadian dealers expect. We’re excited to work together to grow the brand and make ELAC’s premium audio solutions more accessible across Canada.”

ELAC products are available immediately through Firstech Canada’s network of authorized dealers and integration partners across Canada.

The post Firstech Canada Named Master Distributor for ELAC in Canada appeared first on CEPRO.

What Apple Has in Store for the Smart Home

According to Bloomberg, Apple will be introducing a TV set-top box and an updated version of the HomePod mini as soon as this fall with the most noteworthy upgrades over pre-existing models being the inclusion of faster chips to support Siri AI.

Apple’s highly-anticipated smart home hub device is also “nearly ready to launch” sometime “between October and early next year. Two models reportedly exist for this device, one being a screen positioned on a half-dome shaped based and another that can be affixed to a wall using a new magnetic system (though no sign of the robotic arm previously speculated).

The hub will reportedly have a 7-inch square display and will be built around Siri AI, using an “entirely new operating system” that has allegedly been built off tvOS. It will also support FaceTime, home security monitoring and HomeKit integration alongside customizable interfaces.

The hub will also reportedly be able to identify who’s looking at it through facial recognition to help personalize the interface in real time, adjusting text size based on distance in addition to displaying a specific user’s calendar, notes and other personalized content.

Lastly, the Bloomberg reports that there are two other products in products, one being the “robotic” smart home hub, as well as an “advanced in-home security camera.”

Why Integrators Should Take Note

Despite being largely absent from custom integration (CI) channels now, Apple still has a significant presence within the industry. While control platforms like Control4 have recently begun to incorporate Apple integrations for the home, others, like Savant, have systems that have been built off of macOS.

Despite it being a consumer-focused brand now, the sheer profusion of its products among homeowners leaves Apple to be a force to notice for CI, even if it doesn’t actively engage with the channel.

That could be changing, however, if patents are followed through, with documents uncovered by CE Pro revealing that Apple could one day seek to tap CI in order to professionally install smart home systems of its own.

The post Apple Could Start New Smart Home Push as Early as October appeared first on CEPRO.