This article will look to explore many of the different facets of the DIY conversation, bringing forward prior discussions, available research on the topic, and commentary from the industry to try and measure the true impact of DIY on an integrator’s business, and what can be done to mitigate (and perhaps even benefit from) it moving forward.

Why This Matters to Integrators

Business lost due to DIY is the most prominent concern related to the topic (as evidenced by CE Pro articles dating back nearly a decade at this point), but while many point to (cost) as being the main drivers for homeowners choosing DIY over pro, it misses some of the nuances of these decisions and brushes off its impact on business elsewhere, particularly the newly formed floor of the industry.

Homeowners will pursue DIY as an option if they think they can save money, but it’s also not entirely true that higher end projects are completely insulated from DIY, as the mere existence of it promises elements that larger, more complex systems can struggle to achieve, assuming that the integrator providing them is careless with the implementation.

The Real Impact of DIY on an Integrator’s Business

There’s no dedicated research on how much DIY can impact business in general—let alone in custom integration. The closest we have is looking at the home improvement market, which, Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reports that in 2023 the owner-occupied home improvement market totaled $405 billion. Of that, DIY’s market share represented 15.9% of that at $64 billion, and that 15.9% represents a historic low for the lifespan of the study. Meanwhile, in that same time, professional spending grew 14%.

As a “threat,” DIY is shrinking, though it’s doing so in fits and bursts (it is very prone to cyclical rises and falls). So, what’s the worry?

Custom Integration Projects Can Largely be Considered ‘Safe’ to DIYers

Google’s recent advancements with AI have now made it easier for DIYers to build custom automations on their smart home platforms. Photo by Ascannio – stock.adobe.com

The reason why integrators might be more concerned with DIY is because CI as an industry is theoretically vulnerable to DIY trends. There are a few reasons for that:

• The first is that the low barrier of entry makes it so DIYers can get started as easily as integrators in some cases.
• Next is because the budgets for CI projects tend to pull from discretionary spending, which is the type of spending most susceptible to being diverted into DIY projects.
• Lastly, the tech-centered business model lends itself to disruption as the prevailing trend is that over time more complex systems become easier to install for the end user.

How Does Project Cost Factor into DIY Decisions?

Whether or not someone will opt to do DIY instead of calling a professional largely depends on the cost of the project.

The average size of a DIY project sits at around $5,000, with anything over that usually getting picked up by a professional, so, basing assessments off the average CI project costs (between $25,000 and $75,000 according to CE Pro‘s 2026 State of the Industry), it’s safe to assume that most integration projects are insulated based on cost alone.

That’s on average, though, and digging deeper into the specifics reveals a different take. As it turns out, 15% of all CI projects fall under $5,000, making it the second largest project cost segment in the industry. That’s 15% of this industry’s work capable of being disrupted by DIY (which fits almost perfectly with the percentage of spending going into DIY discussed at the top of the article).

Who is Supporting These Smaller Projects?

More than likely, the types of firms occupying this project scope are those either relatively new to the industry or still trying to build out their business by pursuing a higher volume of low budget projects. Older more established firms tend to pursue a lower volume of higher budget projects.

Is Cost King?

One anomaly throwing a wrench into the cost equation is the recent market entrant, Bundl, who made headlines with DIY CI kits that cost as much as $12,000. The $5,000 mark isn’t a hard and fast rule, but when pitching a DIY kit at that price point, you might wonder if it was a miscalculation on Bundl’s part or something else?

Back when she used to write for CE Pro, magazine founder Julie Jacobson penned a piece talking about the threat of DIY to integrators, and her take leaned away from the cost angle.

In her own words: “…Consumers don’t necessarily go the DIY route because they’re too cheap to hire a pro, or the products themselves are cheap (they’re not always). They do it because it’s just simpler that way. Configuring the products is simple enough (at least consumers are led to believe), and they can complete the transaction — from ordering to installation — without having to talk to a salesperson or let a stranger into their home.”

Homeowners Want Convenience and Simplicity

This particular smart home won a Home of the Year Award in 2024 for its unique integration of pro-level systems into Apple’s DIY devices. The initial request was borne out of a desire to retain a familiar, simple interface by the homeowner, an ex-Apple engineer. Photo by Stephanie Johnson

Homeowners want their smart homes to be convenient and simple, even in the setup, and that’s something that, historically, the pro channel has struggled with. Just because a professional system is more advanced and feature complete doesn’t mean that a homeowner will always view it as worth the hassle (if there is one).

As Executive Editor Zachary Comeau wrote discussing ongoing biases against the industry: “Without thoughtful interfaces, clear automation logic, and ongoing support, small problems compound and make everyday interactions feel slower, more confusing and less reliable than traditional controls.”

Opportunities in DIY

Rather than viewing it strictly as competition, many within the industry have begun looking at DIY products as opportunities for education, both for how professional systems can better emulate the simplicity and convenience at the DIY level and how integrators can show prospective clients what a pro-level experience looks like.

AVIXA’s David Labuskes is on record for viewing DIY as a great opportunity for integrators looking to scoop up frustrated clients and wow them with a pro-grade solution.

There’s evidence of that being the case as well, as Parks Associates found that 29% of DIY projects in the smart home space turn to pros for finishing the job.

To make those conversions, however, Labuskes said integrators need to focus on why someone would want to hire them in the first place and promote that. Integrators can’t be selling TVs and expect to outcompete DIY for long; they need to be selling themselves and highlighting the impact of the services their business provides.

The Do-It-for-Me Market

Savant’s Cync line (which runs under the GE Lighting brand) is a DIY solution that the company has added more support to over the years as a means of being able to upgrade into pro-level systems. Photo courtesy of GE Lighting

JC Murphy, Chief Commercial Officer over at Savant goes so far as to highlight DIY as being a catalyst for the “Do-it-for-Me” (DIFM) market, a growing segment in the industry actively using DIY-level devices but implementing them with the same thought and care as a professional-grade system.

“There is an entire crop of homeowners out there getting fired up about DIFM smart home, and many are now seeking out next level solutions from integrators,” he says.

“It is not uncommon that some of these consumers find their way to the pro-channel via their DIY experiences,” he adds, referencing patterns he has seen over at Savant with customers graduating from its DIY offerings into more robust, professional systems.

DIY Lets Homeowners Try Before They Buy

Georgio Galaris, Manager of Residential Marketing over at Crestron echoes that sentiment, pointing out how homeowners outgrowing DIY is a very real phenomenon.

“When a customer is seeking a more connected, elevated experience, DIY products often expose them to what’s possible and the limitations of their current setup,” he says. “While smaller, single-device features might be fine for DIY, once a homeowner is looking for a connected system, professional expertise becomes essential.”

“While DIY solutions can kick off the customer journey, integrators are ultimately the ones who can deliver the seamless, connected smart home many homeowners seek,” he adds.

In Summary

It’s hard to solidly quantify the true impact DIY has on an integrator’s business. If we’re looking at current project spending spreads, DIY is the weakest it’s ever been. It’s safe to say either way that custom integration, as an industry, is well insulated from DIY, though it can still impact the business of younger, smaller firms by stealing away smaller projects.

Staying competitive requires a look at why consumers might pursue DIY. Cost is a major element, but convenience and simplicity is almost just as important, and that latter portion is something pro-channel projects have struggled with historically.

For that reason, it is vital that integrators, especially those starting out, define themselves less by the individual products they offer and more by the result they can achieve with those products, focusing on human-centered systems that actively work to reduce friction in household interactions.

Those at the top and those within the DIFM market have their identities nailed firmly down in that respect, and they are thriving as a result. Those relatively fresh to the industry, meanwhile, would do well to consider what value they bring to homeowners, because if that can’t be answered, then DIYers might actually eat their lunch.

The post A Thorough Look at DIY and Its Impact on the Custom Integration Channel appeared first on CEPRO.

GIK Acoustics Bass Trap Panels

Source: GIK Acoustics

Photo courtesy of GIK Acoustics

GIK Acoustics has expanded its bass trapping range with three new deep-panel solutions designed to tackle uncontrolled low frequencies.

The new range includes the Classic Bass Trap Panel “60Hz”, Amplitude Bass Trap Panel “60Hz”, and FlexRange® Bass Trap Panel “50Hz.”

The Classic Bass Trap Panel “60Hz” is built around a 20cm, 8-inch mineral wool core, offering absorption down to around 60Hz.

The Amplitude Bass Trap Panel “60Hz” brings the same deeper performance to GIK’s design-led hybrid range, extending down to around 60Hz as well.

The FlexRange Bass Trap Panel “50Hz” is designed to absorb down to around 50Hz. It includes a built-in air gap and can be configured in Full Range, Range Limiter, or Scatter Plate mode.

More than 20 Camira Cara fabric options are available across the range, alongside multiple sizes and options for ultimate customization.

AVPro Edge USB Extender

Source: AVPro Edge

Photo courtesy of AVPro Edge

AVPro Edge introduced the AC-EXUSB-3-WP-KIT earlier this week, capable of extending USB signals over UTP category cabling up to 100 meters (328 feet), pairing with a desktop receiver to help simplify professional AV installations.

The kit’s wall plate features a USB Type-C data port for connecting laptops and other USB hosts, plus a dedicated USB Type-C power delivery input for supplying up to 65-Watts to connected devices.

The wall plate fits standard US and EU single-gang electrical boxes while the device itself supports USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2.0, and 1.0 devices simultaneously with DisplayLink support for USB video devices.

Kwikset Auto Integrations

Source: Kwikset

Image courtesy of Kwikset

Kwikset, an ASSA ABLOY Group Company, announced earlier this week a smart lock integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enabling homeowners to lock or unlock their door directly from their vehicle’s dashboard.

With the Kwikset app now available within Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, users can control compatible Kwikset smart locks using their vehicle’s display. Once a smartphone is connected to the vehicle, either wired or wirelessly, the Kwikset app appears alongside other supported apps.

Compatible locks connected through the Kwikset app appear automatically within the vehicle interface, allowing homeowners to view and manage multiple homes and locks from one place.

AVPro Edge MXnet Universal Streaming Platform Series

Source: AVPro Edge

Photo courtesy of AVPro Edge

AVPro Edge introduced its MXnet USP Series (Universal Streaming Platform) this week.

The new lineup of AV-over-IP transceivers come complete with features like video wall processing, native Multiview capability, an integrated signage player and third-party interoperability with a variety of players.

The new devices have been built around AVPro Flow, which, according the company lets AV signals flow across various products, product series and even manufacturers without the need for any additional workarounds.

There are three AV-over-IP transceiver models in the series: the USP-PR (Pro), the USP-PL (Plus), and the USP-ES (Essential).

Hisense XR10 Triple Laser Projector

Source: Hisense

Photo courtesy of Hisense

Hisense announced earlier this week that its XR10 Triple Laser Projector is now available for pre-order.

The XR10 runs on an RGB triple laser light source paired with Hisense’s LPU 3.0 Digital Laser Engine. According to Hisense, the projector achieves 6,000 lumens of max brightness with image sizes up to 300 inches in 4K.

The projector also comes pre-equipped with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG in addition to sporting a 118% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut.

The post Extenders, Bass Panels and Streamers, Oh My!: Wired In appeared first on CEPRO.

Speaking with CE Pro, Earl Naegele, head of CI retail and e-commerce for Neptune, says the new lineup includes three full-sun models ranging from 55 to 75 inches and an updated 75-inch partial-sun model. Brightness has increased significantly, with full-sun models reaching up to 1,500 nits and the partial-sun display increasing to 1,000 nits. All models include a three-year parts and labor warranty, which the company says is among the longest in the category.

Naegele says demand for outdoor TVs continues to rise as homeowners invest more in outdoor living spaces, including kitchens, pools, and entertainment areas. He attributes part of this growth to lifestyle shifts that emphasize “staycation” environments and the need for reliable connectivity throughout the property.

The company emphasizes that outdoor-rated displays are critical for both safety and performance. Indoor TVs, Naegele says, are not designed to withstand exposure to moisture, temperature fluctuations, or debris, and lack the brightness needed to compete with direct sunlight.

From a specification standpoint, Naegele advises integrators to carefully evaluate placement, including sun exposure and viewing angles. Neptune’s use of IPS panel technology and anti-glare coatings is intended to maintain image quality across wide viewing positions in outdoor environments.

Reliability is another key focus, with the company citing a low warranty failure rate and updated IP55-rated enclosures designed to protect against dust and water ingress. Features such as integrated lift handles and included mounting hardware are also aimed at simplifying installation and reducing potential service issues over time.

The post Neptune Breaks Down Outdoor TV Design: Brightness, Durability & Installer Considerations appeared first on CEPRO.

However, the path from legal victory to actual bank deposits remains complicated. The government is rapidly building a mass refund system, but importers cannot simply sit back and wait for a check to arrive. Taking proactive steps is necessary to prevent the government from keeping a portion of those funds on technicalities, according to Chris Duncan, a former attorney for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who served for 16 years and now works on customs issues in private practice for Squire Patton Boggs.

Actions to Take Now for Tariff Refunds

Based on recent court developments, Duncan highlighted two critical actions every eligible company should take right now to protect their tariff refunds. These are simple steps that do not involve filing a lawsuit or racking up huge legal fees:

• File an administrative protest with CBP regarding liquidated, or finalized, customs duties already paid.
• Set up ACH banking details with CBP, which is mandatory to receive any tariff refunds.

“There’s a lot of money at stake here with the refunds,” Duncan said. “People shouldn’t be swayed by, ‘I don’t want to stick my neck out. I don’t want to put in the effort.’ It’s your money. You lost the ability to use those liquid assets for that period of time. You are entitled to get it back — with 7% interest.”

For some of Duncan’s larger clients, tens of millions of dollars are at stake. For smaller companies, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“For almost every client, when we do the calculations, it’s way more money than they thought,” he said.

Liquidated Versus Unliquidated Entries

The new government tariff refund system that is being built, called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE), will primarily process unliquidated entries. Understanding the difference between liquidated and unliquidated shipments is vital for importers trying to secure their money, Duncan said.

When a company imports goods, they file paperwork declaring the merchandise value, classification, and estimated duties owed. The importer then pays a cash deposit based on those calculations.

By law, the government has one year from the date of entry to review the paperwork, ask questions, or make changes, or the customs entry is deemed liquidated, or finalized. By policy, CBP liquidates entries after 314 days, Duncan said.

Entries that are still within CBP’s initial 314-day review period are considered unliquidated, or not finalized.

The new government refund system being built is designed to handle the more recent, unliquidated entries that are still within the initial 314-day review period.

However, older shipments that were subject to IEEPA tariffs that have already passed the liquidation date require immediate manual intervention from the importer, Duncan said.

Crucial Step One: File a Protest Immediately

The most urgent advice for importers involves shipments that have already liquidated. According to Duncan, the government has pushed back against automatically refunding these finalized entries. He believes the government is hoping that many smaller, unsophisticated businesses will simply miss the administrative deadlines.

Once an entry liquidates, the importer has exactly 180 days to file an official protest if they want to challenge the tariffs paid. If a company fails to file a protest within that 180-day window, they forever waive their legal right to secure a refund. Because the earliest China fentanyl tariffs were implemented in early 2025, those initial entries began liquidating in December, Duncan said. The 180-day clock is actively ticking down for thousands of shipments.

Duncan advises that importers pull reports of all their entries where IEEPA tariffs were paid and track the liquidation dates. Filing a protest with CBP is a highly common, straightforward administrative task that a customs broker or even a company can handle internally, he said. It simply requires stating that the company paid IEEPA tariffs, the Supreme Court ruled them unlawful, and the company is requesting a refund with interest.

“It is fairly easy to do,” Duncan said. “It’s not a legal filing; it’s an administrative filing with customs that is very common. These are not overly complicated.”

If your company has a lot of money at stake, however, you may want to use a lawyer or broker to make sure everything is filled out correctly given the 180-day protest window, he said.

Taking this simple administrative step ensures companies preserve their rights without absorbing massive legal fees, Duncan said.

The judge overseeing this case in the U.S. Court of International Trade, Judge Richard Eaton, flagged the need for importers to file protests for liquidated customs duties paid after the government recently said it would not refund already finalized customs duties via the new CAPE system.

“The judge basically in his latest order said ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, importers, you better watch out because the government here is saying not every entry is going to be captured by this new administration system, CAPE,’” Duncan said. “The judge said you better file protests to protect your rights to ensure you can get the refunds through the protest process if customs isn’t going to do it through this separate administrative process.”

Crucial Step Two: Set Up the ACH System

The second major hurdle is an administrative rule change that has the potential to derail payouts for many companies. The government will no longer mail paper checks for tariff refunds. All payments must be processed electronically through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) banking system.

If a company is not properly registered for electronic transfers inside the customs data portal, the government will reject the refund, he said. Furthermore, a rejected payment results in the importer forfeiting their right to collect interest.

Currently, only a small percentage of importers have set up the ACH payment system. Out of the roughly 330,000 eligible importers, only about 6% have completed the necessary banking setup, the CBP reported in early March.

“Customs put this electronic ACH refund process in place very quietly,” Duncan said. “I think they’re actually counting on a lot of people not signing up for electronic refunds.  And not being in the ACH system allows them to say, ‘Oh, there’s no way to give them the money back. So I guess we get to keep it.’

“Everybody needs to set this up, it’s so easily done,” Duncan added. “Your broker can do this for you, and you can also do it yourself. Make sure it’s not an excuse that they can use to not give you the refund — plus interest — back.”

Companies Are Owed 7% Interest

The interest attached to the tariff refunds is substantial, Duncan said. The government is statutorily obligated to pay 7% interest, accruing daily from the original date of the cash deposit. For companies that have had their capital tied up in illegal tariffs for over a year, this interest represents a massive financial windfall.

“There’s a huge chunk of interest money the government is going to have to pay out beyond the money they collected in tariffs,” Duncan said.

Duncan: Companies Deserve the Tariff Refunds

Because companies have been whipsawed for a year with the tariff crises and changes, it’s easy for executives to grow immune to the tariff noise and not realize how important it is for them to take action now.

“Some people are saying, ‘I don’t want to make the effort ..’” Duncan said. “But it’s your money. You paid it. Now, do you want to give it back to your customers as a rebate? Do you want to give it to charity? Do you want to give your employee bonuses? Or do you want to put it in the company coffers?

“But that’s your money, you were hassled, you had to pay it. The money should go to you, not the government,” Duncan added.

This article originally appeared on Emerald publication Shop Eat Surf Outdoor.

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Why It’s Important for Integrators

Over time the number of devices being used on home networks has increased greatly, necessitating strong network architecture put together by devices that can support these greater loads, especially as time goes on, and new devices are added to the network.

Additionally, this has made deploying networks a far more complex and time-consuming task while making the network one of the largest product categories represented on projects today.

“Dealers need to deliver faster, more reliable networks while also reducing configuration time and onsite troubleshooting,” said Nima Jamshidi, Director of Product Management – Networking at ADI.

A Look at the Araknis 530 Wi-Fi 7 AP

According to Araknis, the 530 is built for high throughput, low latency networks and is also meant to support reliable roaming for a growing number of connected devices including smartphones, AV systems, MoIP solutions, and surveillance platforms.

The access point uses tri-band Wi-Fi 7 communications to ensure stable connectivity in these congested wireless environments. While being built to handle the loads common in workspaces, retail locations, coffee shops and other light commercial environments, the AP is also built to support loads common in high-end residential as well.

Alongside its raw performance, the 530 introduces several management tools for installers, as well. These tools include Wi-Fi optimization, an automated channel-tuning capability designed to improve performance in challenging RF environments; proximity view, designed to provide clear insight into access point placement and spacing without requiring time-consuming site walkthroughs; and bridge mode, which allows integrators to extend network coverage when running physical cabling is impractical.

The Araknis 530 is also fully integrated with the OvrC connected ecosystem.

Additional Considerations

One thing of note is that the new 530 Wi-Fi 7 platform is fully backward compatible with existing Araknis Wi-Fi 6 access points, designed to allow integrators to upgrade network performance incrementally without an immediate overhaul of existing installations.

Wi-Fi 7’s Two Year Anniversary

With the first certified devices hitting the market back in January 2024, Wi-Fi 7 has now been officially available to the public for over two years at this point, with more and more hardware now being (or soon will be) able to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7 functionality. For integrators with legacy clients who are still operating on older Wi-Fi 6 networks, the profusion of devices able to access WI-Fi 7’s core features now may offer some salient upgrade opportunities as more devices become certified.

Availability

The Araknis 530 AP is available in the U.S. now and in Puerto Rico beginning March 30. Additional information for the 530 including a more detailed spec sheet can be found on ADI’s website.

The post Araknis Launches Wi-Fi 7 AP Designed to Handle Substantive Device Loads appeared first on CEPRO.

The acquisition comes less than two months after Fauna introduced its first product, Sprout, a humanoid robot designed to support social interaction in environments such as homes, schools, and offices. Financial terms were not disclosed. Amazon says Fauna’s founders and employees will join its New York operations, with the company continuing to operate under the name “Fauna Robotics, an Amazon company.”

Fauna Robotics: A Focus on ‘Human-Centered’ Applications

Fauna positioned its founding mission around the idea that robots should operate in human-centered spaces rather than remain confined to industrial environments. In a recent post on its website, the company stated that most robotics development to date has focused on factory automation and warehouse logistics, leaving potential applications in everyday settings largely unexplored. The firm argued that service-sector labor shortages and advances in robotics technology are converging to make humanoid systems more relevant for residential and commercial environments.

Sprout, priced at roughly $50,000, is positioned primarily as a software development platform aimed at academic and corporate research laboratories exploring human-robot interaction. The humanoid system emphasizes physical safety and social approachability, featuring a lightweight design, soft exterior materials, and expressive visual cues intended to make interaction more intuitive. Fauna described the platform as modular, enabling developers to build applications in areas such as manipulation, navigation, perception, and voice interaction without needing to design core robotics hardware.

Amazon’s History in Robotics

The acquisition underscores Amazon’s continued interest in robotics beyond its warehouse automation footprint, where the company has deployed more than one million robots globally. By bringing Fauna into its portfolio, Amazon appears to be exploring new consumer- and service-oriented robotics use cases that could complement its broader smart home and AI initiatives, including its Alexa voice platform.

Amazon’s ambitions in consumer robotics have faced challenges. The company abandoned its planned acquisition of robot vacuum maker iRobot in 2024 following regulatory scrutiny in the United States and Europe. Even so, the Fauna deal signals that major technology firms continue to evaluate new form factors and interaction models as robotics technologies evolve toward more human-centered applications.

Takeaways for Integrators

For the custom integration channel, the move highlights growing interest in interactive robotics and AI-driven interfaces within connected environments, particularly as vendors explore how physical automation systems could eventually integrate with smart home ecosystems.

Fauna is hardly the only robotics company making a push for consumers’ homes. Namely, Tesla is developing its Optimus humanoid robot for the consumer market and elsewhere. Robots haven’t yet graced the floor of CEDIA Expo or made a big push into the custom integration market, but that may soon come to pass. 

The post Amazon Acquires Humanoid Robotics Startup Fauna, Expanding Push Into Human-Centered Automation appeared first on CEPRO.

Why It’s Important for Integrators

RGB LEDs are shaping up to be the next big battleground in home entertainment technology, as Hisense, LG, Sony and Samsung have announced RGB TV models that are either confirmed or (in the case of Sony) expected to come out this year, with TCL pursuing adjacent advancements to achieve a similar function.

Across all products, the technology differs slightly, but the promise remains the same: the most vibrant colors produced by a TV to date with exceptional brightness and contrast to back it up, giving RGB LEDs the potential to be the next big advancement in premium home entertainment.

Details on the Hisense UR9 RGB MiniLED TV

The UR9 carries Hisense’s proprietary RGB architecture, which the company says allows it reach 100% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut, with each LED capable of generating red, green and blue light independently, directly at the source. The UR9 also sports a native 180Hz refresh rate with an onboard AI processor designed to balance color and brightness in real time.

One unique element of the UR9 that Hisense is on record discussing is the fact that it also reportedly cuts harmful blue light exposure by nearly 50% (certified by TÜV Rheinland) without impacting the color or picture quality of images on screen. The result, ideally, is less eye strain during viewing and a greater sense of comfort overall.

The UR9 is available in sizes ranging from 65 to 100 inches, however, as part of the offer deal going on now, pre-orders for the UR9 will also be eligible to receive a free 55-inch Canvas art TV from Hisense.

Competition in the TV Category Ramping Up

TV sales have always been a high competition segment, and as the TV market has consolidated somewhat in recent times, the current offer by Hisense reads like an aggressive push to get ahead of others in the space at a time when its own sales have begun to flag in its local territory of China.

The Ubiquity of the Art TV Segment

The offer of free Canvas TVs as part of a preorder bonus for its latest, premium offering also helps to highlight first the razor-thin margins TV sales continue to operate at, but also the growing ubiquity of art TVs as they relate to premium TV sales.

The most installed TV in the custom integration (CI) channel is Samsung’s The Frame for its design-forward hardware and its versatility as a general-purpose TV in contrast to many of the channel’s higher performing, higher cost options that serve more as dedicated theater room displays—not unlike how RGB is currently being positioned.

Availability and Cost

Preorders for the Hisense UR9 RGB MiniLED TV are now open, with the 65-inch model starting at $3,499.99 MSRP. The UR9 will be available in 65″, 75″, 85″, and 100″ screen sizes, with pricing up to $8,999.99 MSRP for the 100-inch model. On April 23, 2026, the UR9 will enter general availability through official channels.

The post Hisense Aims to Get Ahead of the Competition with UR9 Preorders appeared first on CEPRO.

Why This is Important

Released at the start of March 2026, the Aliro specification aims to work as a unified standard for digital keys, much in the same way Matter is intended to work as a unified means of communication for wireless devices. On paper, this means that under Aliro, users can employ their own personal digital key to unlock a variety of devices securely and easily.

Nuki’s Keypad 2 comes in as the first device capable of supporting the standard in full, with it extending contactless unlock capabilities to any Matter-capable Nuki Smart Lock on the market, no extra installation required.

How Does the Keypad 2 NFC Work

While a variety of methods can be used to enable contactless access, Nuki’s Keypad 2 runs on Near Field Communications, much like how contactless payments run, allowing encrypted data exchange within just a few centimeters of the locking device via a digital key housed on a smartphone or wearable device.

Users can use either an Apple Home Key, Samsung Digital Home Key, or Nuki’s Tap to Unlock function in the app; however, fingerprint unlocks and a personalized access code are other available options for unlocking the device. A Matter-enabled hub from the respective key provider is needed to use them with a Nuki device, however.

Contrasting that, Nuki says its Tap to Unlock feature functions with any Nuki device, regardless of a hub being present. The only requirement is that the user’s phone be capable of conducting near field communications.

All information regarding key data, biometrics and codes is stored locally, though cloud usage remains options.

Considerations for Integrators

While the Aliro standard presents itself as a more convenient means of accessing one’s home, the seeming requirement for a hub to allow full freedom of choice with different digital keys does pose a slight limitation by adding an additional device requirement to the mix. Whether this will apply to all Aliro devices is to be seen.

Availability and Pricing

The Nuki Keypad 2 NFC is available immediately for $179 MSRP in the Nuki Online Shop and on Amazon.

The post The Nuki Keypad 2 Becomes One of the First Aliro-Certified Devices on the Market appeared first on CEPRO.

The post Leon Speakers: Why Design Now Matters as Much as Performance in Outdoor Audio and Lighting appeared first on CEPRO.

New Sony BRAVIA audio products

The new audio lineup includes the BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 and BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 soundbars, as well as the BRAVIA Theater Sub 9, Sub 8, Sub 7 and Rear 9 optional speakers. Sony says the products are designed to create a wider, more immersive surround sound field while also giving consumers and integrators more flexibility to build out or upgrade a home cinema system over time.

According to Sony, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 is positioned as a compact single-soundbar option with nine speaker units, including up-firing and side speakers, and support for the company’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. Sony says the model is designed to deliver a cinema-style surround experience from a single bar and can be expanded with optional subwoofers and rear speakers.

The BRAVIA Theater Bar 5, meanwhile, is a 3.1-channel soundbar system with a wireless subwoofer. Sony says it is aimed at delivering a mix of bass performance, dialogue clarity and value, while also incorporating S-Force PRO Front Surround, Vertical Surround Engine and its upmixer technology for more enveloping sound.

Sony says both soundbars support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content and can integrate with compatible BRAVIA TVs for control through the television menu, including use of Sony’s Voice Zoom 3 dialogue enhancement feature. The company says users can also access sound settings through the BRAVIA Connect app, with setup and accessibility features designed to simplify installation and daily operation.

To complement the soundbars, Sony is also introducing three wireless subwoofers and one rear speaker package. According to the company, the BRAVIA Theater Sub 9 uses dual 200mm drivers with a vibration-cancelling opposing-driver design, while the Sub 8 features a single 200mm driver. The slimmer Sub 7 uses a 130mm driver and supports two-way installation.

Sony says the BRAVIA Theater Rear 9 package includes wireless rear speakers with 80mm up-firing drivers intended to enhance rear-channel performance and expand the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping effect. The company also says dual subwoofer playback is now supported for the first time in the BRAVIA Theater series with compatible models.

For the audio lineup, Sony says the BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 will retail for $869.99, the Theater Bar 5 for $349.99, the Sub 9 for $899.99, the Sub 8 for $499.99, the Sub 7 for $329.99 and the Rear 9 for $749.99, with presales beginning in Spring 2026.

New Sony Bravia 3 II

Alongside the new audio products, Sony is expanding its TV lineup with the BRAVIA 3 II, a mid-tier LED television available in sizes up to 100 inches. According to Sony, the BRAVIA 3 II uses the XR Processor and XR Triluminos Pro, supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and includes four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K/120Hz support for gaming applications.

Sony also says the TV includes a redesigned Inclusive Remote Control with optimized button spacing and a Remote Finder function intended to improve accessibility and ease of use.

The BRAVIA 3 II includes Google TV with Gemini integration, which Sony says allows users to search content, ask questions and control smart home devices through more conversational voice interaction. Sony says the TV will be available in Spring 2026 through Sony and authorized retailers, with pricing ranging from $599.99 for the 43-inch model to $3,099.99 for the 100-inch version.

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