What did you miss at CEDIA 2024?
It is an industry fact that the smart home and luxury AV industry was, in no small part, created in the USA. This is especially true for Pulse Cinemas and Invision, as several key brands are from the other side of the pond. So, it makes complete sense to make the annual trip to the CEDIA Expo. Pulse Cinemas’ Managing Director, Mike Beatty, and Michael Roberts, Business Manager at Invision UK, report back on the key events and news.
madVR
madVR had a storming show, the best ever, reported the company, picking up several awards for the new entry-level Envy Core, which continues to generate lots of interest from both established and new customers.
Michael explains, “madVR won an impressive three awards specifically for the Envy Core. The accolades included AVS Forum Best of Show, Projector Central Best of Show, CEPro Best Products of 2024, and the company also picked up AVS Forum Best of Show, CEDIA 2024, Demo Room with madVR Labs' partners using the Envy Extreme MK2. This really underlines what the company has achieved with its new release, offering a new point of entry for this powerful platform. The product begins shipping this autumn, and orders have already been strong, so it’s highly recommended to get your order in early”.
Invision are holding their own special training session on the new madVR Core product, hosted by company Co-Founder and CEO Ric Litofsky on Friday 4th October 2024. Get more details and sign up to attend by hitting this link here.
AVA
Over on the AVA stand, business was also brisk, with visitors checking out the recently released AVA Cinema Remote.
Mike says, “As the saying goes, ‘When America sneezes, the world catches a cold’. This phrase highlights the reality that, as a global leader, America's actions have a profound impact on nations worldwide. In this context, AVA has made waves, and for those committed to providing their clients with cutting-edge technology, it’s essential to take a closer look at this brand.Their innovations could very well shape the future landscape of the industry. If you’re interested in learning more about this brilliant company and how you can get involved, get in touch to find out when the next webinar is, where you can learn more about the brand and its products.”
Introduced last year, the AVA Cinema Remote has been designed to revolutionise home entertainment experiences. This fully programmable remote, based on the Android OS, boasts a combination of a dynamic keypad and 3D physical touch interface. When users switch from one function to another, the dynamic keypad reconfigures automatically and instantly. Macros are easy to create and configure, and it’s possible to launch a native app as part of a macro. The remote is powerful enough to control one room or the whole home.
Kaleidescape
The Kaleidescape stand enjoyed some genuine star power with a guest appearance from Hollywood director and writer Barry Sonnenfeld, who signed copies of his new book, which promises to lift the lid on how Hollywood really works. Barry directed The Addams Family and its sequel Addams Family Values, Get Shorty, and the Men in Black trilogy, among many others. Barry gave this year’s Expo keynote, sharing his views on filmmaking and technology—some really interesting stuff.
Kaleidescape was also a brand that picked up awards at the show.
The recently announced Strato V won the CEDIA Manufacturer Product Award for Best New Hardware and was also recognised by Projector Central and TechRadar for the same product.
Mike comments, “A strong theme of the show for us, and I think for the industry in general, is high-performance brands adding more ‘affordable’ versions of their platforms to their line-up. This not only makes the technology available to a wider audience, but also makes the same abilities accessible to a larger number of projects, which has to be a good thing. Installers can see the Strato V demonstrated at Pulse Cinemas HQ. The company also recently announced a slew of firmware upgrades that bring much of the promised functionality at launch to this new product”.
Find out more here.
Trinnov
Trinnov made a big splash at the event with a highly impressive demo on the show floor, involving its own abilities in partnership with madVR and Kaleidescape. Designed to show how WaveForming technology heightens detail and immersive experiences in a home cinema environment, the demonstration was one of the most impressive at the show.
Michael underlines, “This technology is highly impressive. If you haven’t experienced it yet and want to find out more, get in touch—it can be experienced at Pulse Cinemas HQ. We are sure you will be impressed and will want to find out how to implement this next-level tech in your projects.”
Screen Innovations (SI)
The Screen Innovations stand was packed with visitors checking out the Zero G Pro and Black Diamond Fusion concepts.
Zero G Pro is an advanced ALR levitating projection screen that combines a massive size (up to 300 inches diagonally) with up to 16ft of levitation, delivering an immersive viewing experience. This technology is suitable for commercial projects but could also be implemented in large domestic situations as well.
The new Black Diamond Fusion picked up a CEDIA Best Of Show Award from Projector Central and was so new that few details were released ahead of the show.
Michael reveals, “Black Diamond Fusion continues with the company’s ability to cope with projection in high-ambient light conditions. The show was an excellent chance for the brand to showcase these abilities, with the new product performing extremely well even in the very bright space that is an exhibition hall.”
Paradigm/Anthem
The Paradigm/Anthem stand played to packed houses with a demo that mixed the Founder Series floor-standers and the P1 from the CI Pro series. The company was also discussing new finishes available on the Founder Series, which include Ruby Frostbite, Frozen Charcoal, and Azure Ice.
Mike adds, “Paradigm also revealed details of a new in-wall subwoofer product, the SFC12SW, suitable for new build and retrofitting projects. Technology inside promotes strong bass production but lessens vibration. There is also a bezel-free grille design to promote good aesthetics. More news on this soon.”
After a long day of checking out the show, what better way to relax and continue discovering than to stop by the Fortress Seating stand and experience the new CineMilano being featured at the show? Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and designed to elevate any cinematic experience to new heights, the CineMilano has been created to redefine the concept of relaxation. With sumptuous upholstery, tailored for maximum comfort during marathon movie nights, the CineMilano seamlessly blends into any modern home theatre, while its ergonomic construction ensures optimal support for hours of immersive viewing pleasure.
Mike enthuses, “Nobody makes better home cinema seating than Fortress Seating, and this new product just underlines that.”
Get in touch for more information.