Pasley serves as general manager of JVC’s Home Theater Projector and Custom Installation business within the Visual Systems Division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation. The WiCT Legacy Award recognizes industry professionals for their impact through leadership, innovation, service and mentorship.

More Than Two Decades at JVC

Pasley has spent more than two decades at JVC, working within the company’s premium home theater projection business. A graduate of Marquette University, she has focused on building relationships with dealers, custom integrators and other channel partners while helping guide JVC’s home theater projector business.

“Everyone at JVC is incredibly proud to see Jamie receive this well-deserved recognition,” said Ian Scott, vice president of JVC’s Visual Systems division. “Her passion for the residential projection industry, unwavering commitment to our customers and partners, and ability to bring people together have made her an extraordinary leader.”

Scott added that Pasley has helped shape JVC’s presence in the custom integration channel while having an influence beyond the company.

Pasley Adds to Industry Recognition

The WiCT Legacy Award follows other recent industry recognition for Pasley. In 2025, she was named one of CE Pro’s 40 Women to Watch and was also recognized as one of TWICE’s Powerful Women in Consumer Electronics.

Beyond her work at JVC, Pasley has been involved in mentorship and professional development efforts aimed at supporting women in the consumer electronics industry. According to JVC, she has advocated for greater visibility for women in the industry and supported the development of the next generation of professionals.

The 2026 Legacy Award adds to Pasley’s recognition within the custom integration and broader consumer electronics industries as she continues to lead JVC’s home theater projector and custom installation business.

The post JVC’s Jamie Pasley Receives 2026 Women in Consumer Technology Legacy Award appeared first on CEPRO.

What is Artafex 1

Artafex 1 is a one-inch downlight and adjustable fixture DMF says was built to solve a problem that has limited the category since one-inch fixtures first launched: limited output, poor glare control, no tunability and fixtures that required cutting into finished ceilings for service kept them relegated to accent lighting alone.

At the heart of the fixture is a patent-pending 3-Stage Optic that can reportedly deliver up to 750 lumens while controlling glare from a nearly invisible trim, with tunable white and warm dim options for softer, more livable light wherever it’s needed.

Both the driver and light module are tool-free and fully accessible from below the ceiling plane, so integrators never need to reopen a finished ceiling for service.

What Else is DMF Bringing to CEDIA Expo?

DMF will also showcase Artafex Linear, its half-inch architectural linear lighting system for under-cabinet, cove, millwork, and accent applications.

DMF will also hold Artafex PhaseX training sessions at CEDIA Expo 2026, with three one-hour sessions offered each day: Wednesday, September 2 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., and Thursday, September 3 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.

Sessions will be held at the Hyatt Regency Denver, Mineral Ballroom B-C, and cover Artafex PhaseX technology and products, including the new Ethernet PhaseX Gateway. Advance dealer signup is required; attendees can register here or stop by DMF’s booth for details.

Attendees can visit DMF at Booth 2106 to experience the Artafex 1 and Artafex Linear line firsthand and what control through the PhaseX gateway looks like in person.

The post Miss Out on Seeing the Artafex 1 at Lightapalooza? Here’s Your Next Chance appeared first on CEPRO.

According to ASCENDO, the composite radiating surface technology the Panoramic Surface uses is engineered specifically to deliver wide-area sound coverage with minimal visual impact, allowing the loudspeaker to behave less like a conventional loudspeaker at high frequencies and more like a controlled acoustic surface.

The result is wide and continuous radiation characteristic, which ASCENDO says extends to nearly 180 degrees into the high-frequency range, up to 20 kHz.

That should translate to greater tonal consistency across multiple seats, less audible variation between on-axis and off-axis positions, more evenly distributed height information and surround effects that are less tied to the physical location of each loudspeaker, making for an overall more immersive listening experience.

Additionally, because Panoramic Surface is intended to operate near the wall or ceiling surface, ASCENDO touts that the design can greatly reduce front-boundary SBIR (speaker-boundary interference response), a common issue with angled or off-surface-mounted loudspeakers.

Instead of introducing unnecessary reflection paths and associated comb-filtering artifacts, Panoramic Surface is designed to integrate naturally with the architectural surface while maintaining broad, consistent high-frequency coverage.

Why Integrators Should Take Note

Because the speaker distributes its output across a radiating surface, a listener seated closer to a surround or height channel does not experience the sharp rise in perceived loudness that occurs with traditional speakers, giving installers more freedom to place seats near individual channels without introducing level imbalance.

Combined with improved integration with architectural surfaces, the speakers aim to offer greater system design flexibility overall while still maintaining strong, immersive performance.

ASCENDO and the Panoramic Surface On-Wall at CEDIA Expo 2026

ASCENDO will demonstrate Panoramic Surface and its latest immersive audio technologies at CEDIA Expo 2026, integrating into a scalable, luxury home cinema system alongside SR10 partners AcustiMOD, Christie (Luxury Distribution Group), madVR Labs, Moovia (Sutherland AV Marketing), Storm Audio, and Seymour-Screen Excellence.

The post ASCENDO is Introducing an All-New Speaker Technology for Immersive Cinema appeared first on CEPRO.

Released this week, the new native Chowmainsoft Google Cast and Chowmainsoft Google TV drivers provide Control4 integrators with direct IP-based integration across a wide range of Google-powered entertainment products.

Control4 Google Home and Google Cast Integration

The Chowmainsoft Google Cast driver integrates Google Home, Nest speakers, Nest Hubs, Chromecast Audio and other compatible Google Cast devices with Control4.

Customers can continue casting music directly from their phones or using voice commands such as “Hey Google, play music”, while Control4 gains visibility and control over the resulting audio session.

The integration provides Now Playing information and artwork, playback control, discrete volume and mute control, automatic room on/off functionality, Control4 keypad bindings, programming events and support for announcements and URL-based audio playback.

Google Cast devices can also be configured as Control4 audio endpoints, allowing Google smart speakers to coexist with traditional distributed audio systems within the same Control4 project.

Native Google TV Integration

The new Chowmainsoft Google TV driver extends this integration to televisions, streaming devices and set-top boxes running Google TV OS.

The driver communicates using the same method as the official Google TV app, providing direct bi-directional IP control without requiring IR emitters, additional hardware, middleware or third-party applications.

Control4 receives real-time power and playback feedback including On, Off, Play, Pause and Stop states, together with information about the content currently playing. Control4 Mini App support also provides direct launching of installed services including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video and other Google TV applications.

Why Integrators Should Take Note

Because of the new Google TV integration, integrators can now build automation around the customer’s viewing experience. Lights can automatically dim when playback begins, raise when content is paused and return to normal when playback stops.

The driver can also automatically power on a Control4 room when the Google TV device turns on or begins playing content.

Availability and Compatability

Compatible products with the new integration include Google Home and Nest smart speakers and displays, Chromecast devices, Google TV Streamer, NVIDIA Shield, DIRECTV Stream and DIRECTV Gemini devices, along with other compatible Google TV and Android TV media players and set-top boxes.

For Google TV products, devices that can be controlled through the official Google TV app should be compatible with the Chowmainsoft Google TV driver.

Both drivers are available now from Chowmainsoft with a free 90-day trial for Control4 integrators.

Attendees to CEDIA Expo can visit Chowmainsoft at Booth 3332 as well as a free manufacturer product training session being given by the company called: “Control4 Third-Party Drivers & Integrations by Chowmainsoft.”

The post Chowmainsoft Introduces Google Home and Google TV Integrations for Control4 appeared first on CEPRO.

It’s worth paying attention to this list. Plenty of categories that are now considered pillars of the custom integration business — whole-home audio, networked lighting control, motorized shading itself — started the same way: as an unfamiliar name on a new exhibitor’s badge, pitching integrators on a product they hadn’t yet found a place for in a proposal.

Just think of the brands you met on the show floor just a handful of years ago. Companies like Josh.ai and Just Video Walls are still relative newcomers compared to their competitors in the control and display markets, but they’re making quite a bit of noise with innovative solutions and dealer-focused initiatives.

Some of this year’s 60-plus newcomers are chasing that same trajectory: a micro-LED brand with a channel-first pricing and support model, a shading platform that treats every motor as a network device, a mattress that talks to Crestron and Control4, a home robot built to move through a house rather than just listen in it. Any of these could be a footnote or a future category leader, and CEDIA Expo is where that first bet gets placed.

For readers, that makes this feature more than a booth directory. It’s an early look at technology that may be showing up in client proposals within a year or two, and a chance to hear — in each exhibitor’s own words — what they’re showing, why they chose CEDIA Expo, and what they believe sets them apart from everything else already competing for a dealer’s attention.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the new exhibiting brands that have a chance to revolutionize your business in the coming years.

For the full list of new CEDIA Expo 2026 exhibitors, visit here. 

DreamWall Brings Cool-Running MicroLED Walls to the CEDIA Channel

Booth #1332

Image/DreamWall

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

CEDIA Expo is the ideal platform for DreamWall’s introduction to the residential and resi-mercial integration markets, bringing together dealers, integrators, designers, and technology professionals seeking innovative solutions and trusted partnerships. The show showcases DreamWall’s premium COB MicroLED portfolio and its partner advantage — protected pricing, healthy margins, U.S.-based support, installation assistance, training, and warranty — built on four decades of CEDIA experience, and a chance to introduce new MicroLED solutions to the community.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

DreamWall will showcase 11 live display systems across Classic, Elite Gold, Elite Platinum, Indoor/Outdoor SMD and COB, the debuting GOB Curved Sales Counter, and the Monarch™ Folding & Rising Portable LED Display, which rolls through doorways and rises into position in minutes without permanent mounting. Screens range from 136 to 162 inches with Full HD and true 4K. The proprietary CooLED™ platform runs many systems on a single 20-amp circuit with minimal heat.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

DreamWall’s goals go beyond a brand launch: introducing its complete MicroLED portfolio across residential, resi-mercial, and commercial markets; expanding its dealer network through the partner advantage of protected pricing, margins, support, training, and warranty; demonstrating CooLED’s low-heat performance firsthand; and showcasing installation efficiency through live mounting demonstrations. Above all, DreamWall wants dealers and integrators to leave understanding it offers a true partnership, not just industry-leading MicroLED technology, to help grow their businesses profitably.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

DreamWall’s proprietary CooLED technology sets a new standard for efficiency, running many indoor systems on a single 20-amp circuit with minimal heat and lower installation costs. Its portfolio’s breadth — spanning home theaters, luxury living, commercial, signage, and outdoor installations, plus the Monarch Display’s mounting-free design — sets it apart further. Most importantly, DreamWall combines premium MicroLED technology with protected pricing, margins, support, training, and warranty for a complete business ecosystem, not simply another manufacturer.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

DreamWall’s CEDIA Expo debut features one of the largest MicroLED showcases on the floor, with 11 live systems for residential, outdoor, commercial, portable, and specialty applications. Visitors can watch live installation demos and talk with specialists about CooLED technology, while a beer pour, prize drawings, and other activities add to the experience. Whether exploring MicroLED for the first time or expanding a video wall business, attendees can see what makes DreamWall a new force.

Dendo Systems Debuts Network-Native PoE Shading with the RENKEI Platform

Booth #3246

Image/Dendo Systems

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

We believe that CEDIA Expo is the perfect setting as it brings together the integrators, technology partners and manufacturers for whom our RENKEI Platform was specifically developed. We are excited to speak directly with the professionals who design, install and support integrated shading systems.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

We will showcase the RENKEI Platform, which comprises our network-native PoE shading motors and the RENKEI Processor. Each motor receives power and control through a single Ethernet cable, while the Processor simplifies discovery, limit setting, grouping and third-party integration.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

Our primary goal is to introduce our brand to the North American custom integration market and establish relationships with integrators, shading specialists, technology partners and potential channel partners. We also want direct industry feedback as we build the support and distribution structure required for the market.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

Our architecture treats every shade motor as a true network device. Instead of proprietary motor-control wiring and centralized power panels, each motor connects directly to standard Ethernet and PoE infrastructure. An internal energy buffer keeps the required PoE budget to approximately 3 watts per motor while supporting individual addressing, synchronized control and real-time position feedback.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

Visitors will see a motor get plugged in, automatically appear in the commissioning interface, and then be configured, grouped and controlled live. It is a practical demonstration of how network-native shading can simplify installation while providing precise control and feedback to the automation system.

RYSE Targets the Retrofit Market with Motorized Shades for Existing Homes

Booth #2538

Image/Ryse

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

RYSE was founded to solve one of window automation’s biggest challenges: motorizing shades in existing homes without expensive renovation or rewiring. Early consumer traction, plus strong dealer and integrator interest at IWCE, confirmed demand within the custom integration channel. CEDIA Expo, the industry’s premier event, is the ideal place to introduce RYSE to integrators seeking innovative, retrofit-friendly shading that expands business opportunities while delivering greater value to clients.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

RYSE will showcase its smart shading portfolio — SmartShade, SmartCurtain, and the award-winning Motorized Hem Bar. Unlike treatments requiring shade replacement or running power, RYSE products retrofit onto existing coverings with minimal installation time and no structural modifications, letting integrators add motorization to previously cost-prohibitive projects and generate retrofit revenue without electrical work or renovation. The Hem Bar also relocates the motor into the hem bar itself, improving battery access and simplifying maintenance.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

Our primary objective is to build relationships with dealers, integrators, distributors, and technology partners across the custom integration industry. We’re looking to expand our dealer network while increasing awareness of RYSE as an innovative retrofit shading solution that complements today’s smart home ecosystem. Just as importantly, we see CEDIA as an opportunity to gather valuable feedback from professional installers as we continue developing products specifically for the custom integration market.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

Most motorized shading solutions target new construction or full shade replacement. RYSE takes a different approach, enabling installers to motorize existing window coverings — creating a lower-cost entry point for homeowners and a new retrofit category for dealers. Combined with the Motorized Hem Bar, RYSE helps integrators complete projects faster, reduce complexity, and minimize service calls, unlocking opportunities for customers who previously considered motorized shades out of reach, rather than replacing what homeowners already own.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

Visitors will see live demonstrations of RYSE’s retrofit shading, discover how quickly it installs, and see how it fits today’s integration projects. The team will discuss dealer partnerships, installation and onboarding, margins and revenue opportunities, the product roadmap, and smart home integration. Whether looking to grow a shading business, offer retrofit automation, or differentiate a portfolio, attendees are invited to stop by Booth 2538 to see how RYSE is redefining motorized window coverings.

Unique Lighting Systems Extends the Connected Home Outdoors

Booth #732

Image/Unique Lighting Systems

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

CEDIA Expo brings together the exact professionals Unique Lighting Systems is built to support: integrators who own the whole-home technology relationship and want profitable ways to extend it outdoors. Outdoor lighting remains an underleveraged opportunity in the CEDIA channel, and integrators are well-positioned to lead the next phase of connected outdoor environments. After 30-plus years in professional landscape lighting, the company is bringing its products, training, design resources, and field support directly to CEDIA dealers.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

The company will showcase its full ecosystem: the Inspira Series smart outdoor lighting platform, Odyssey Series premium brass fixtures, patented HUB low-voltage wiring system, SMRT Logic control platform, and its CEDIA Partner Program. For integrators, these solutions create new opportunities to extend the connected home outdoors, deliver premium experiences, and grow profitability — simplifying installation and service while enabling immersive lighting control and luxury design that helps dealers differentiate and win more outdoor projects.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

The company’s primary goal is introducing itself as a true growth partner for the CEDIA channel, not just another lighting manufacturer — offering a complete path into outdoor lighting: premium products, training, design and specification support, financing, and national field support. Brand awareness matters, but dealer recruitment and education are equally critical, as the company connects with integrators new to outdoor lighting and lighting dealers seeking a stronger factory-direct partner and broader support.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

What differentiates Unique Lighting Systems is its combination of proven category experience, premium engineering, and a complete dealer support infrastructure, built over 30 years helping professionals grow outdoor lighting businesses. The patented HUB system reduces field splices and simplifies low-voltage distribution, while the Inspira Series offers tunable white, RGB color, wireless fixture control, and app-based adjustment. The products are backed by training, design services, field support, financing resources, and the stability of The Toro Company.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

Integrators should stop by because outdoor lighting can become a natural, profitable extension of the connected home — and the team can show how to get started without added complexity. At the booth, attendees learn about the Inspira and Odyssey platforms, explore the HUB wiring system and SMRT Logic control, and discuss training, support, and the CEDIA Partner Program, leaving with a clear plan to sell, install, and scale outdoor lighting confidently.

Oval Home Brings AI-Powered Sleep Recovery into Smart Home Integration

Booth #4015

Image/Oval Home

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

Wellness and health technology have rapidly become top priority investments for luxury homeowners, making sleep tech the next major category to evolve into an integrated smart home cornerstone. The bedroom remains the “last unowned room” for custom integrators. CEDIA Expo is the premier stage to show dealers how intelligent recovery infrastructure can be seamlessly integrated into central automation systems alongside AV, lighting, and shades.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

We are showcasing our flagship Oval Home Generation-3 Intelligent Sleep System, featuring an AI-Adaptive Smart Mattress and 4-Zone Temperature Control Cover. Key highlights include the Closed-Loop OVAL-AI® Engine, an FDA 510(k)-registered algorithm that adjusts pneumatic air springs in real time for spine support, and a Native CI Driver Ecosystem with two-way Crestron and Control4 integration that triggers whole-home lighting, shade, and HVAC scenes.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

Our primary goal is to officially launch Oval Home into the North American custom integration channel and recruit top-tier CEDIA integrators, distributors and regional rep partners. We want to establish “active recovery” as a new, high-margin category for dealers and integrators — one that provides pure incremental profit without competing with existing lines.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

Unlike direct-to-consumer sleep tech brands that bypass the channel, or legacy luxury mattress brands that offer zero automation/connectivity, Oval Home bridges luxury sleep with true smart home infrastructure. While most smart beds merely track data passively, our system actively intervenes overnight to adjust physical alignment and dual-zone temperature microclimates. Furthermore, we are the only AI sleep system built for deep integration into the Crestron & Control4 ecosystems.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

Our Precision Recovery Mobile Van, parked on the show floor, houses a live demo of the Generation-3 Intelligent Sleep System inside an interactive luxury bedroom vignette. Visitors can lie on the bed to feel real-time pneumatic spine-alignment adjustments and dual-zone temperature regulation, see its integration with Control4 and Crestron platforms, and learn how the high-margin, consignment drop-ship model creates a profitable, incremental product line for whole-house integrations.

Homebot One Introduces KOKO, an AI-Powered Companion Robot for the Home

Booth #3742

Image/Homebot One

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

CEDIA Expo brings together the professionals shaping the future of connected living, making it the ideal place for Homebot One to introduce KOKO — the next step beyond connecting devices, bringing embodied AI into the home. KOKO is a new category: an AI-powered home robot designed to understand, move, interact, and assist in real living environments. Homebot One is excited to meet integrators and smart home leaders envisioning the next generation of residential experiences.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

Homebot One will showcase KOKO, an AI-powered companion robot built for natural interaction, mobility, visual understanding, and personalized assistance. Unlike a stationary smart speaker, KOKO physically moves through the home, interacts with family members, and becomes part of everyday life. This matters to the integration channel because KOKO offers a new intelligent interface for the connected home, combining robotics, AI, and home intelligence as homeowners expect more natural interaction with their environments.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

Our primary goal is to officially launch Homebot One and KOKO to the custom integration community and begin building meaningful relationships across the smart home ecosystem. We are looking to build brand awareness, connect with integrators and potential channel partners, gather feedback from industry professionals, and explore future collaboration opportunities. CEDIA Expo is also an important opportunity to demonstrate how home robotics can create new value for homeowners, integrators, and technology partners.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

Most smart home products are designed to control devices; KOKO is designed to assist people. What differentiates KOKO is its combination of embodied AI, autonomous mobility, natural conversation, visual perception, and contextual understanding — participating in the home more naturally than voice commands or app-based control allow. The vision is a helpful companion that understands routines, responds to real-world situations, and creates more personal, human-centered smart home experiences.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

Integrators should visit to get an early look at how AI and robotics can become part of the connected home. At the booth, visitors can experience KOKO in person, see how it interacts with people, and leave with a clear sense that home robotics is becoming a practical layer of the smart home. For those wondering what comes after traditional automation, KOKO offers a glimpse of a home that’s connected, intelligent, and personal.

M&K Sound Returns to the U.S. Custom Channel Through Audio Collective Group

Booth #C811

Image/M&K Sound

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

CEDIA Expo is the perfect stage for M&K Sound to return to the U.S. custom installation market through Audio Collective Group. It’s where we reconnect with longtime dealers, meet a new generation of integrators, and show that one of home theater’s most respected loudspeaker brands is again backed by dedicated U.S. inventory, faster fulfillment, and installer-focused service. For us, this isn’t simply exhibiting — it’s reintroducing an iconic brand to the market.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

We’ll showcase M&K Sound’s custom installation portfolio — in-wall, in-ceiling, and on-wall loudspeakers, 5.1 surround systems, and architectural solutions for premium home theaters. Highlights include the IW500, one of only a few THX Dominus Certified in-wall speakers, built for the largest cinemas; the legendary S150, a THX-certified studio favorite trusted in mixing for the Star Wars films; and the X15+ flagship subwoofer, carrying forward M&K’s legacy as inventor of the world’s first active subwoofer.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

Our biggest goal is to reconnect M&K Sound with the U.S. custom integration community and demonstrate the support now in place through Audio Collective Group. We’re looking forward to meeting longtime M&K dealers and new integration partners, expanding our dealer network, and introducing the ACG team supporting customers with inventory, logistics, and service. We’ll also give attendees an exclusive preview of a new loudspeaker series launching later this year.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

M&K Sound has spent more than 50 years building loudspeakers around one principle: accuracy, faithfully reproducing what the filmmaker or mixer intended rather than sounding impressive in a showroom — earning a worldwide reputation in production and reference home theater. That philosophy runs through the S150 (Star Wars mixing), the IW500 (a THX Dominus Certified in-wall speaker), and the X15+, built on M&K’s invention of the active subwoofer, for reliable, timbre-matched loudspeakers at attainable prices.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

If you’ve been waiting for M&K Sound to return to the U.S., this is the booth to visit. Meet the Audio Collective Group team bringing M&K back to the American market, along with product specialists ready to discuss system design and selection. Experience popular installation solutions, get an exclusive look at new speakers, and learn why M&K Sound remains one of the world’s most respected names in audio.

iLLumenate Lighting Builds a Manufacturer Model Made by Integrators, for Integrators

Booth #1543

Image/iLLumenate Lighting

What made CEDIA Expo the right place to exhibit for your company this year?

CEDIA Expo aims to attract the same audience iLLumenate was created for. Our focus is offering solutions tailored to the integration market, and we sell exclusively to professionals in this industry. Our owners have been integrators for over 22 years and understand firsthand the lack of manufacturer support, which inspired them to make a difference in the industry.

What products, solutions, or innovations will you be showcasing in your booth, and why are they particularly relevant to the custom integration channel?

We’re excited to showcase four product categories — LED Neons, LED Sheets, LED Tapes, and Extrusions — around 19 products total, designed to simplify selection for integrators. Our LED Neons help avoid mistakes caused by underperforming outdoor neon from other suppliers. LED Sheets introduce a slim, flexible backlighting solution, while our LED Tapes eliminate dotted reflections and uneven hotspots. We’ve also developed extrusion kits that make customizing and integrating tapes and channels simple.

What are your goals for your first CEDIA Expo? Are you looking to build brand awareness, recruit dealers, launch products, or something else?

Our main goal is to attract and bring in new dealers. We’re making the most of the CEDIA Expo to boost our visibility and show that we’ve developed solutions to address both everyday and unique challenges integrators encounter. We’re excited to showcase our latest products and also share more about our design services.

What do you think differentiates your company or technology from what’s already available to CEDIA attendees?

We are proud to be integrators ourselves, having built this company exclusively for fellow integrators. We understand what it takes to create a successful project and know what can happen when manufacturers leave you stranded. Our experience on the manufacturing side has given us the knowledge and confidence to create iLLumenate Lighting and be the partner installers deserve.

Why should integrators make your booth a stop during the show, and what can they expect to experience there?

Integrators are encouraged to visit our booth to explore our full product lineup and learn more about the design services we offer, such as photometric calculations, renderings, custom install instructions, takeoff drawings, and more. They’ll have a chance to demo our products and chat with the team they’d work with daily, hopefully walking away with a solution for their project challenges.

The post Are These First-Time CEDIA Expo Exhibitors the Next Big Thing in Custom Integration? appeared first on CEPRO.

Now, integrations solving these sorts of issues have been made over the years. However, DistributorConnect says it’s doing so by allegedly being the first platform built to be fully App and ERP agnostic.

What this means is that rather than being locked to a specific invoice and estimate software, ERP or distributor ecosystem, users on DistributorConnect can connect to whatever software their business already runs with the platform acting as the adhesive between the two ends of the transaction.

How DistributorConnect.io Works

According to the company, DistributorConnect.io positions itself as an integration layer sitting between the customers invoice and estimate application and the distributor’s ERP (quoting and ordering system).

Rather than requiring either side to replace their existing software, the platform syncs in the background, pulling live catalog data, pricing and inventory from the distributor and surfacing it directly inside the contractor’s existing invoice and estimate app.

When a customer builds an estimate, PO (purchase order) or invoice, that line-item data is instantly mapped to distributor SKUs. Upon approval, the estimate can convert directly into a PO and routes to the distributor automatically. DistributorConnect says even material deployments can be managed through the customers invoice and estimate app.

Why Integrators Should Take Note

What distinguishes DistributorConnect.io from earlier integration attempts in distribution, according to the company, is its absence of vertical or software constraints. DistributorConnect.io’s architecture is designed to sidestep that problem entirely, with the company also noting that it can fit into every business vertical (including custom integration (CI)) due to how its platform is set up.

If a business uses an invoice and estimating app and buys from a distributor, the company says, the integration is applicable.

“We’re not building for one app, one ERP, or one industry. The problem we’re solving exists everywhere distributors and their customers interact — and so does our solution,” stated the company in a press release announcing the platform.

The Case for Distributors

The platform’s go-to-market strategy is built primarily around distributor partnerships rather than direct contractor sales. The logic, according to the company, is that signing a single regional distributor immediately unlocks that distributor’s entire contractor customer base as a warm audience.

The company frames the value proposition for distributor partners across four areas: increased gross merchandise volume as order friction drops, higher customer retention through deep workflow embedding, minimal technical lift required to get connected and a competitive advantage over distributors not yet integrated into their customers invoice and estimate apps.

According to DistributorConnect, distributor partners only need to provide simple API info to get added to the system. A dedicated partnership contact is also requested to coordinate the onboarding process.In return, the company offers co-marketing to the distributors proof of concept users and eventually, their active user base.

DistributorConnect.io at CEDIA Expo 2026

DistributorConnect will be exhibiting at CEDIA Expo 2026 Booth 3244 while the show floor is open. Readers not attending CEDIA Expo this year can also visit the company’s website to learn more about the platform.

The post DistributorConnect.io Aims to be the First App- and ERP-Agnostic Distribution Platform appeared first on CEPRO.

One major development is the company’s move further into LED displays. Stealth is expanding its existing Patio Theater outdoor LED products and bringing a complete line of indoor LED displays to market. One of the most notable products among those is Stealth’s new on-wall folding TV. The roughly 42-inch wall-mounted fixture can incorporate different colors, textures and design elements, then mechanically unfold into a 105-inch display.

Stealth plans to demonstrate the product at CEDIA Expo, with shipping tentatively expected around the middle of 2027.

Cichowski says the company’s experience comes partly from its parent company, Dimensional Communications, which has extensive experience deploying and servicing LED displays in commercial and educational environments.

Stealth is also introducing a new family of digital amplifiers intended to complement its existing, heavier analog-style amplifiers. The new models will be available in two-, four- and eight-channel configurations with different power ratings. Five of the six models will include Dante networking, and the amplifiers are based on Pascal technology. Cichowski describes them as a more practical option for installations where dealers need lighter equipment.

Another new product is an in-wall subwoofer with a slotted port. Rather than being completely hidden behind drywall, this design uses a small, paintable grille at the bottom of the wall. Cichowski positions it as a compromise between completely invisible bass and the greater output of a conventional subwoofer. Stealth will also offer a mud-in version. The products are intended for whole-home audio, media rooms and home theaters where maintaining a discreet appearance is important.

For CEDIA Expo, Stealth will be located at Booth 2911. The booth will feature a working demonstration of the folding TV alongside Stealth speakers, indoor LED displays, the Extreme pop-up LED TV, and customizable outdoor speakers. Cichowski expects the booth to provide a particularly active demonstration of the company’s expanding product portfolio.

Tune into the discussion to hear more about the other products Stealth is bringing to the show, as well as the company’s new design services expected to launch soon.

The post From Invisible Speakers to Folding TVs: A Look at What Stealth Acoustics Has for CEDIA Expo appeared first on CEPRO.

In a conversation with CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau, Origin Acoustics CEO Nick Berry said the company has redesigned its booth from scratch around the theme “Sound Lives Here.”

Rather than displaying products primarily on walls, Origin plans to create several residential environments, including spaces resembling a kitchen, living room, bedroom, dining room and outdoor area. The goal is to demonstrate how audio can fit into a home while complementing its architecture and design.

Berry said the approach is also intended to make the technology more approachable for architects and designers attending the show. He argued that showing technology within familiar, thoughtfully designed spaces can help the custom integration industry better communicate its value to the design community.

Origin Acoustics Previews New Audio Products

Origin will also use CEDIA Expo to introduce several new products. Among them are new eight- and 16-channel amplifiers designed as straightforward, scalable solutions for everyday installations. The company is also developing new wedge-style surface-mount speakers and expanding its subwoofer offerings for multipurpose entertainment spaces.

Another major introduction will be Origin’s first entertainment tower speaker. Berry said the customizable tower is designed to deliver high-output performance while still fitting into the design of a home. A pair will incorporate four 10-inch subwoofers.

Origin is also keeping one announcement under wraps. Berry teased what the company believes is an entirely new product category, which will be demonstrated inside the booth’s largest experiential room at CEDIA Expo.

The post Origin Acoustics Teases New Speakers, Amps and CEDIA Expo 2026 Experience appeared first on CEPRO.

Here’s why each session on the Smart Stage deserves a spot on your CEDIA Expo 2026 calendar.

Haven’t registered yet? It’s not too late! Register for CEDIA Expo 2026 here. 

Where is the Smart Stage?

This is one of the questions I get a lot. It’s literally right on the show floor. I very crudely just circled and drew arrows pointing to it on this floor plan, so you can’t miss it.

Who puts it together?

Every year, the Smart Stage is a group effort of CE Pro, CEDIA Expo and CEDIA folks that curate sessions based on what we feel are the leading trends and insights that matter to the industry. Some of these panels are supported by vendors who themselves are authorities on the particular subject matter.

Now, let’s look at the schedule, which you can also find here. 

Wednesday, September 2

10:00 – 10:45 AM | CE Pro 100 2026: Hear From Top Integrators About What Makes Them Successful

Why go: The CE Pro 100 is the industry’s benchmark list of top-performing integration firms, and this panel puts you in the room with the people who made this year’s cut. If you want to know what separates the businesses that are scaling from the ones that are stalling, this is a direct line to that answer. Speakers: Michelle Ferlauto (SoundVision), Tom Clancy (Audio Command Systems), Mike Restrepo (Restrepo Innovations), Andy Klein (Maxicon USA).

Yours truly will be moderating this, and I’m looking forward to hearing what these leaders say about their growth and success.

11:00 – 11:30 AM | Get Your Foot in the Door with Design-Build

Why go: In high-end residential work, the technology conversation often starts before an integrator is even at the table — architects, interior designers and builders are increasingly driving those early decisions. This session is essential for anyone trying to get invited into projects earlier and win more design-build business. Speakers: Natasa Obradovic (KN Design), Sean Bartram (TriPhase Technologies), Robyn Travaglia (Origin Acoustics), Greg Walker (ASHB), Caitlin Stewart (Leon Speakers)

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Beyond the Big Screen: Video Walls and the Rise of Extra-Large Displays

Why go: Screen sizes keep climbing past what even the largest consumer TVs can offer, and clients are starting to ask for it. This session breaks down the ultra-large display and video wall landscape — direct-view LED, seamless walls and everything opening up beyond the standard TV or projector — so you’re ready with answers when the request comes in. Speakers: Tim Stevens (Just Video Walls), Jim Koenig (Just Video Walls), Rocky Sevasetti (TriPhase Technologies), Brian Richards (Precision Media Solutions), Ryan Dockrill (Beyond Audio) Sponsored by Just Video Walls

1:15 – 2:00 PM | How Energy Management Is Reshaping the Smart Home

Why go: Energy management may be the single biggest growth lane in custom integration right now, letting dealers move beyond entertainment and convenience into whole-home performance, resilience and long-term savings. If you’re looking for a new recurring revenue stream, this is where the conversation starts. Speakers: Tony Fritts (Savant), David J. Nutter (Electro Arts Enterprises), Nick Boever (CE Pro), Troy Dunnington (Lightworks) Sponsored by Savant

2:15 – 3:00 PM | The Outdoor Opportunity: Building One Cohesive System from Structure to Control

Why go: Outdoor living isn’t a seasonal add-on anymore — 65% of new homes built in 2024 included an outdoor living structure, up from 48% in 2019, and the U.S. outdoor living market is on track to nearly double over the next decade. This session shows how to turn that growth into a fully integrated system, not a bolt-on. Speakers: Mike Conway (Infratech), Jennifer Kimble (StruXure), Perry Fox (Olibra), Arthur James Jr. (Progressive Screens) Sponsored by Infratech Comfort

3:15 – 4:00 PM | When Smart Homes Get Smarter: AI Enters the Rack

Why go: AI is moving well past voice assistants and into the rack itself — shaping intelligent cameras, adaptive audio, and automated system behaviors. If you want to understand how control platforms are actually going to change (not just the marketing buzz around it), this is the session. Speakers: Alex Capacelatro, CEO of Josh.ai; Craig Spinner (Savant)

I’m also moderating this panel, and I’m looking forward to hearing what these leaders have to say about the intelligent smart home and how AI is changing the way homeowners interact with their homes.

4:15 – 5:00 PM | CE Pro BEST Product Awards

Why go: This is the presentation of the CE Pro BEST Awards, honoring the best products and technologies deployed in the custom integration market this year. It’s a fast, efficient way to see the products your peers and judges consider category-defining — useful homework before you walk the rest of the floor.

Senior Editor Nick Boever and I will be presenting these, and it’s truly one of the highlights of our year. We also help judge these awards, so getting a sneak peek at these innovations and acknowledging them in front of the whole industry is a privilege.

Speakers: Zach Comeau (CE Pro), Nick Boever (CE Pro)

Thursday, September 3

10:00 – 10:45 AM | What Every Integrator Needs to Know About the Next Five Years

Why go: Hear directly from the C-suite of some of the industry’s biggest manufacturers on where custom integration is headed — new technology categories, shifting consumer expectations, the role of AI and energy management, and how integrators should be positioning their businesses now for what’s coming. Speakers: Nick Berry (Origin Acoustics), Brad Hintze (Crestron), Matt Kamp (ADI Global), Mellisa Andresko (Lutron), Kathleen Thomas (Sony) — moderated by Dan Ferrisi (Commercial Integrator)

Where else can you go to learn about what leaders from top manufacturers are saying the future of the industry?

11:00 – 11:30 AM | Cultivating Talent: CEDIA’s Role in Shaping the Next Generation of Integrators

Why go: The smart home and integration industry is only as strong as the talent that powers it. This panel explores how CEDIA is actively building the next generation of skilled professionals, from the classroom to the jobsite — a must for any owner worried about the labor pipeline.

Workforce development is a constant issue that I hear brought up at industry events, but the industry’s leading association has a plan.

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM | AI for Integrators: The Tools that Save Hours Every Week

Why go: AI isn’t just reshaping products — it’s reshaping how integration companies actually operate, from proposal generation and documentation to service diagnostics and marketing automation. This session is about getting hours back in your week, not futuristic theory. Speakers: Ari Supran (Sonance), Mark DiPietro (SoundVision), Sergey Rekutin (Cravtsman), Nick Boever (CE Pro), Jared Ross (AHT Global)

This is one we’re very excited for.

1:15 – 1:45 PM | From Homes to Main Street: Scaling to Light Commercial Projects

Why go: Restaurants, fitness studios, retail stores and offices increasingly want the same technologies integrators already deploy in homes — but commercial work comes with different expectations around reliability, networking, service agreements and design. This session is a practical primer for residential integrators eyeing commercial expansion. Speakers: Shawn Hansson (Logic Integration), Chapin Ruark (Sonos) — moderated by Dan Ferrisi (Commercial Integrator)

2:00 – 2:45 PM | Designing Immersive Entertainment Experiences

Why go: True immersive home cinema is about deeply engaging the senses — not just next-generation visuals, but the superb audio that makes a room feel real. This session digs into the secrets behind high-end entertainment design from the people building it, sponsored by Kaleidescape. Speakers: Michael Kobb (Kaleidescape), Rob Budde (JVC), Phil Holland (PHFX), Juan Reyes (8K Association) — moderated by Zach Comeau (CE Pro) Sponsored by Kaleidescape

3:00 – 3:45 PM | CE Pro Home of the Year/Commercial Integrator’s Integration Awards

Why go: This is the presentation of the CE Pro Home of the Year Awards, which is by far my favorite thing I get to do as CE Pro editor. If you like sliding the price slider all the way up on Zillow, this one is for you. Come look at some of the most beautiful homes in the world outfitted with the best technology on the market and recognize your peers for their incredible work.

CE Pro sister brand Commercial Integrator will also present the Integration Awards, honoring the very best commercial projects and applications across

Come see the work setting the bar for design and execution in both commercial and residential integration.

Speakers: Dan Ferrisi (Commercial Integrator), Zach Comeau (CE Pro), Nick Boever (CE Pro)

4:00 – 4:45 PM | Women to Watch

Why go: This session celebrates the third annual CE Pro Women to Watch issue, honoring the women named to the 2026 class. It’s a chance to recognize the leaders driving the industry forward and hear their perspectives firsthand. The issue that you’ll soon see in your mailboxes and on the show floor is the third we’ve done to recognize leading women in an industry largely dominated by men.

Speakers: Katye Bennett (KMB Communications), Maryellen Oswald (Somfy), Wendy Griffiths (CEDIA), Sarah Atkinson (Sonos)

Friday, September 4

10:00 – 10:45 AM | C.I. Industry’s March on Washington

Why go: CEDIA is heading to the nation’s capital for a day of meetings with legislators and policymakers to advance the smart home industry. This session covers what happened in Washington and how CEDIA members can plug into that advocacy effort in March 2027 — important for any integrator who wants a voice in policy that affects the business. Speakers: Daryl Friedman (CEDIA), Darren Reamon (CEDIA), Brent Sonnek-Schmelz (Origin Acoustics), Andy Orozco

11:00 – 11:30 AM | Trendspotting: What Influencers Saw at CEDIA Expo 2026

Why go: Catch the show while it’s still fresh — leading industry influencers share their takeaways straight from the show floor, highlighting the technologies, product launches and innovations that generated the most buzz. It’s a fast-paced way to make sure you didn’t miss anything big. Speakers: Buzz Delano (Delano Associates), Hagan Kappler (Daisy), Hank Alexander (Oasys), Brittany Farinas (House of One) — moderated by Zachary Comeau (CE Pro)

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Best Booth Awards

Why go: Close out the show by celebrating the most creative, engaging and visually impressive exhibit booths of the year. The booths that stole the spotlight take the stage to accept awards for standout design, innovation and attendee experience — a great last stop for booth-design inspiration before you head home. Speaker: Jason McGraw (CEDIA Expo)

The post Your Session-by-Session Guide to the CEDIA Expo 2026 Smart Stage appeared first on CEPRO.

The post Blackwire Designs Takes an Integrator-First Approach to Distribution and Support at CEDIA Expo 2026 appeared first on CEPRO.