CE Pro

1. The Case for a Home Integrator Source: The Case for a Home Integration Professional A while back, around the time current CEDIA CEO Daryl Friedman announced he would be retiring from the position in 2027, I had made note of how much momentum Friedman built for the channel to make CEDIA (and by extension the professionals associated with CEDIA) a household name.

It’s InfoComm next week, and while that generally means more news related to commercial spaces, K-array just announced two new products for luxury residential projects. The new Keystone (KST110) architectural subwoofer and Dragon (KX2) compact source loudspeaker are set to make their debut at the show, with both aiming to tackle some of the challenges K-array sees impacting the architectural audio market.

Every AV professional wants to deliver an incredible listening and viewing experience. Most assume the biggest factors are the displays, speakers, source components and Internet service package. But some dealers and distributors have recently discovered that something as simple as the router can make a surprisingly large impact on streaming performance.

Rising energy costs, the widespread increase in work from home (WFH) and the rise in subscription-based entertainment, among much more, are changing how much time Americans are spending in and around the home. As such, many are saying that the profession of “home integrator” has become as important as a plumber, electrician or HVAC technician. What is a ‘home integration professional’?

As residential lighting becomes increasingly connected, DMF Lighting believes custom integrators are uniquely positioned to take ownership of the category rather than leaving it to other trades. Speaking with CE Pro, DMF Lighting Senior Director of Product Strategy Charlie Derk argued that integrators are often the first call homeowners make when something connected to a control system fails, regardless of who supplied the lighting fixtures.

Juke Audio has introduced AudioMate, a new wireless transmitter designed to bring locally connected audio sources into a distributed Juke Audio system without requiring dedicated wiring back to a central rack or media closet.

D‑Tools has launched Inventory Asset Management in D‑Tools Cloud, which aims to give integrators complete visibility into individual physical assets throughout the project lifecycle, from receiving and warehouse management through installation and ongoing service, unifying four previously fragmented workflows under a single per‑asset data model.

Garmin has unveiled a whole new line of subwoofers stemming from its acquisition of JL Audio back in 2023. Dubbed the JL Audio Pavilion, the speakers sport a sleek and inconspicuous aesthetic, being designed to fit just about anywhere in a home (the speakers themselves being roughly 8-inches in diameter). These are the latest home audio product to release from the company since the reveal of the JL Audio Primacy back in May.

Bose Corporation has acquired StreamUnlimited Engineering GmbH, a provider of streaming software platforms, hardware modules and connected audio solutions, in a move that further strengthens the company’s position in connected home audio and smart home ecosystems. Announced June 9, the acquisition brings Vienna-based StreamUnlimited into Bose’s Audio Technology business, which licenses Bose audio innovations and technologies to manufacturers across multiple industries.

Headphone maker Meze Audio revealed a new set of high-end headphones while at HIGH END Vienna last week. Born from a years-long collaboration with Rinaro Isodynamics, the ARTA is what Meze is calling a “passion project years in the making,” combining striking design features with a state-of-the-art driver. “ARTA came into existence from asking the same question over and over: what is there still between the listener and the music?