CEDIA Expo, the show for connecting integrators, designers and construction professionals, experienced a strong return for its 2022 edition. The show — which took place over three days, from September 28 – October 1 in Dallas, Texas — included more than 350 exhibiting brands and more than 150,000 square feet of exhibits, live audio demo rooms and seminar and talk areas. Every day was buzzing with activity, showing how ready every aspect of industry was to get back to business. The Dealerscope staff scoured the show floor for the hottest products retailers need to know about this year. Here is what we found:
The Victrola Stream Turntable – A Record Player for Our Decade
Vinyl is making a surprising return to audiophile’s collections. To fill this demand for the modern generation, Victrola’s Victrola Stream turntable offers a wireless vinyl experience to music lovers with Sonos in their homes. The Victrola Stream lineup requires no additional equipment for connecting to a Sonos ecosystem, allowing effortless setup and easy control with the Sonos app, adding a premium design synonymous with Sonos speakers.
Better-than-Real Life TV: LG MAGNIT 4K 136-inch Micro LED
Of course home theaters and high end televisions were huge at this year’s show. One of these was the LG MAGNIT 4K 136-in. Micro LED residential display (LSAD Series). Complete with LG’s webOS smart TV platform, popular streaming apps, screen sharing and AI-enhanced processing, the LG MAGNIT 4K offers a trove of special features including LG’s α (Alpha) 9 AI Processor that uses deep learning technology to reduce picture noise and optimize saturation and contrast based on room conditions. It also is designed to enhance the clarity and legibility of faces and text, while an ambient light sensor adjusts brightness and tone mapping to maintain optimal appearance in varying lighting conditions.
The Cinematic XDR LED Video Wall
We experienced in person the power of the new Cinematic XDR LED Video Wall from Quantum Media Systems (QMS). From a performance standpoint, the XDR lets the audience enjoy a high-performance image. But it’s much more than that; its immersive image display technology with Fine-Pitch LED and high-performance image processing produces sharp, defined detail, vibrant color spectrum, and High Dynamic Range (HDR), which results in a wide contrast ratio with deep blacks and peak white levels. Best of all, homeowners can enjoy this content with the lights off or in full view of sunlight thanks to the XDR’s extreme brightness (up to 1000nits).
Planar Luminate Ultra Series LED Video Wall
Are you seeing more customers looking for outdoor solutions? One of these is from Planar, which announced a new addition to the company’s portfolio of outdoor fine pitch LED display solutions with the release of a fine pitch, high bright outdoor LED video wall designed for up close viewing. The Planar Luminate Ultra Series LED video wall display features coated LEDs to deliver ruggedness and exceptional image detail for high-ambient light environments. The Planar Luminate Ultra Series is designed to enhance viewing angles, providing nearly 140-degree visibility with limited interference, even in direct sunlight. Featuring models in 1.5 and 1.9 millimeter pixel pitches and up to 3,300-nit brightness, the Planar Luminate Ultra Series supports comfortable viewing from as close as six feet.
PRO Audio SR-2408iw Compact High-Output Loudspeaker
We heard a lot of excellent audio demos at the show, but one of the best was from Pro Audio Technology (PRO), which announced the SR-2408iw compact high-output loudspeaker for in-wall and in-ceiling installations, where space is limited but performance is crucial. Featuring a 1.5-in. ring radiator tweeter, two high efficiency 4-in. midrange drivers, and an 8-in. long-throw woofer, the SR-2408iw is a very high-output yet versatile in-wall loudspeaker suitable for retro-fit or new construction. At only 4 inches deep, and with all-aluminum construction, the SR-2408iw is ideal for installations in yachts or elite home theaters (including DCI).
The JBL Classic Series Updated in Black
We all love HARMAN‘s iconic JBL Classic Series, and love it all the more in its new Black Edition. Available on four models — the passive hi-fi L100, L82, and L52, and the powered streaming L75ms music system — the special production versions all include the Black Edition Appearance package for a stylish new look, while the L100 and L82 also feature the Black Edition Performance Package for improvements over the standard Classic models. With the Black Edition Appearance package, the enclosures of the L100, L82, L52, and L75ms are treated to a multi-step, labor-intensive painting process that starts with a black base coat and ends with a luxurious high-gloss finish, resulting in a mirror-like exterior that reflects its surroundings. The high-gloss process also provides a subtle radius to the edges of the cabinet, giving it a softer look overall.
The Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD 13-Chip 3 LCD Smart Gaming Projector
Yes, there is a projector perfect for gaming. Epson‘s new Home Cinema 2350 4K PRO-UHD 13-Chip 3 LCD Smart Gaming Projector is equipped with proprietary 4K PRO-UHD1 technology, HDR10, 21080p resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, and input lag times under 20 milliseconds. With 2,800 lumens of color and white brightness, the Home Cinema 2350 offers stunning images and color accuracy in a variety of lighting conditions for late-night or all-day gaming sessions.
Crestron Ultimate Active Subwoofer, made by Origin Acoustics
The Crestron Ultimate Active Subwoofer made by Origin Acoustics delivers deep, impactful sound for extremely low frequencies, ideal for home theaters or game rooms. Constructed from premium carbon fiber materials with a unique design, this 10-in. 400W subwoofer can be mounted on its side, upright or on the wall. Greater flexibility is enabled with the optional wireless extender kit, which allows the sub to sit up to 50 feet away from its content source.
Brilliant Now Integrates with Hunter Douglas’ PowerView Automation
A highlight of the show was seeing all the collaborations between different integration and manufacturer channels. One of these was with Brilliant, who is now integrated with Hunter Douglas’ PowerView Automation for window shades. Hunter Douglas is one of the most requested brand integrations by Brilliant’s customer and user community with expected availability in October. The new integration will enable Brilliant users to control and automate Hunter Douglas PowerView Gen 3 shades connected to a PowerView Gen 3 Gateway from in-wall Brilliant touchscreen controls or the all-in-one Brilliant mobile app while allowing Hunter Douglas customers to easily connect their PowerView Gen 3 shades to the most affordable built-in home control system on the market.
