Essential Install

Acclaimed American realist painter, Adam Scott Rote – who delivered a new artistic perspective to home entertainment spaces at the CEDIA Expo this year – recently unveiled an expansive new fine art collection celebrating the enduring influence of Hollywood cinema, legendary musicians and the art of classic entertainment illustration, designed for residential home media spaces, entertainment enthusiasts and discerning collectors.

The Esports World Cup 2026 brought together more than 2,000 players competing across 24 games over seven weeks, with a prize pool of more than $75 million. Behind the competition was a vast content operation, tasked with capturing everything from live gaming action and team promos to event highlights, meet-and-greets and celebrity appearances.

ClearLED has worked with immersive visualisation specialist Mechdyne to deliver a bespoke 360° LED display system for the Reality Emulator at the University of Bristol’s Digital Futures Institute (BDFI). The room-sized immersive environment allows researchers to explore complex datasets, simulations and virtual environments, with applications ranging from emergency response training and urban planning to architectural design and artificial intelligence.

New limited-availability finish joins the existing Polar and Basalt options across the Arendal Sound 1610 loudspeaker range. Arendal Sound has introduced the 1610 Black Edition, a new finish for its 1610 Series of high-performance loudspeakers, offering customers an additional aesthetic option without changing the range’s acoustic engineering or design. Available in limited quantities, the Black Edition joins the existing Polar and Basalt finishes across all four models in the series.

Eversolo’s new AMP-F8 Class AB power amplifier is landing in the UK. First unveiled at HIGH END 2026 in Vienna, the AMP-F8 combines substantial power reserves with Eversolo’s approach to engineering, technology and design. Delivering 180W per channel into 8Ω, 280W into 4Ω, or up to 500W into 8Ω in bridged mode, it is designed to provide the power and control needed to get the most from demanding speakers.

At Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, Holovis and Panasonic combined projection, sound, live performance and storytelling to create an immersive family attraction designed around a simple principle: some experiences are more powerful when they are shared. Immersive technology is often associated with individual experiences; think headsets, personal screens and digital environments designed for one user at a time. At Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, Holovis took a different approach.

Magico has announced the A3 2027 loudspeaker, a three-way, four-driver floorstanding design developed with the same measurement instruments that produced the brand’s M9. In developing the A3 2027, Magico deployed the state-of-the-art measurement tools first used to create the M9 — the most ambitious loudspeaker the company has ever built. A Laser Vibrometer measured the vibration of the cabinet panels and calculated the sound pressure levels they generated.

Crestron Electronics has announced a new DM NVX 370 hardware lineup and the first DM NVX System-on-Chip (SoC). AV-over-IP has moved from a specialised infrastructure to the backbone of how modern organisations share information and is increasingly becoming a backbone for organisations’ video requirements, supporting applications from digital signage and communications to live events.

JBL has launched its Cinema SB MK2 Bluetooth soundbar range, introducing SurroundPlay, a new technology that lets compatible JBL portable speakers wirelessly transform into rear surround channels at the touch of a button. For the first time, JBL soundbars can connect wirelessly to compatible JBL portable speakers as rear surrounds. Featuring four new models, the range pairs clear dialogue and bass with sustainable design.

INVIYE has officially launched as a new specialist brand focused on invisible technology solutions, introducing a direct-to-trade platform aimed at AV installers, interior designers, contractors and other design professionals. The online platform gives trade customers access to INVIYE products alongside ordering and account management facilities, project support materials and online training courses designed to support the specification and installation of invisible audio solutions.