ADI’s C4Yourself initiative is designed to help homeowners and design-build professionals understand the real value of smart living technology by letting them experience the power of Control4 in person. That mission was immediately clear during a visit to SoundFX in East Providence, R.I., where the company’s newly designated Control4 Certified Showroom illustrates how hands-on demonstrations can reshape the way consumers think about whole-home automation.
SoundFX President Matt DeLuca says the designation represents a major milestone for both the company and the Rhode Island market. He believes it validates years of commitment to Control4 and creates opportunities to show customers what a connected home actually feels like rather than trying to describe it in abstract terms.
“We are super excited to be a Certified Showroom. I know we are the first and only in Rhode Island. So that is pretty cool.” DeLuca says.
He explains that this kind of environment changes the conversation. Instead of reviewing product lists or flipping through spec sheets, customers immediately understand what home automation can do.
It also helps solidify SoundFX’s offerings, which began in car audio and expanded into home technology about a decade ago as long-time clients began seeking similar expertise in their homes. Being a Certified Showroom for a major player in high-end home automation elevates that position, DeLuca says.
“Just having the ability to show the experiences to the client versus just talking about it makes such a big difference.”
Image/ADI
Turning Technology Into Lifestyle
SoundFX’s showroom is intentionally designed to demonstrate possibilities, not overwhelm clients with products. DeLuca often starts by showing design-focused displays such as TV concealment options, blended audio solutions, and architectural lighting. He says these demonstrations help customers understand the difference between buying a device and investing in a lifestyle upgrade.
“We are never going to be Walmart. We are not going to show you 100 different televisions. But I am going to show you that you can do a mirror television, or you can do a TV lift, or you can do a Frame TV. That is part of the experience.”
Once clients interact with the system, DeLuca says they immediately grasp the value of whole-home integration and a solution like Control4.
“This is really what I am talking about when I say, just feel and touch and share the experience.”
What It Means to Be a Certified Showroom Dealer
Control4’s Certified Showroom Dealer program includes about e, each required to maintain a high-quality demonstration environment and present Control4 as the primary automation platform. Kayla Steinberg, the Certified Showroom Program Lead at ADI, says the program is built around helping customers and design-build professionals experience the possibilities of smart living, from comfort to whole-home control instead of trying to imagine it.
“We call them Experience Centers because the goal is that someone who is interested in smart living experiences would come and be able to truly touch and feel Control4 experiences.”
CSDs receive program discounts, marketing support, and priority placement on Control4’s Pro Locator tool. Steinberg says that extra visibility is a major benefit for dealers who invest in the showroom model.
“They get a CSD badge on the Pro Locator, and that puts them at the top.”
She adds that ADI keeps the relationship hands-on and ongoing, which includes an annual recertification process for dealers to maintain their showroom status.
C4Yourself: Bringing Homeowners and Design-build Professionals Into the Experience
Matt DeLuca of SoundFX poses with a Control4 certification. Image/ADI
C4Yourself events extend the showroom concept by giving homeowners and design-build professionals a specific moment to visit and explore. The events are informal, pressure-free and designed to encourage curiosity.
According to Business Development Manager Eytan Vestin, the purpose of C4Yourself is straightforward. He says the program is meant to bring both existing Control4 owners and people who have never seen the system into an environment where they can explore the technology at their own pace.
“The C4 initiative has one goal. It is to bring existing customers, but also potential new customers, and bring them here and show them what Control4 can do.”
Vestin says even clients who already have Control4 often attend to learn about new capabilities or upcoming upgrades.
“I had a customer come in who has two houses and his business on Control4. He came here to learn what else he can do.”
How X4 and Lux Are Resonating
Control4’s X4 operating system and Lux lighting were showcased prominently during the visit. DeLuca says both have been well received by his clients, largely because they address two long-standing customer expectations: ease of use and high-end design.
“My clients love the ability to be able to go in and make some of their own modifications themselves.”
He also emphasizes that Lux, in particular, hits the aesthetic notes demanded by designers and homeowners working on premium projects.
“The first question they had was, what is your lighting. As soon as I showed them the Lux, it was ‘wow.’”
Vestin adds that Lux reflects what many homeowners want today, especially those who value tactile control.
Apple Integration and Ease of Use
Many SoundFX clients use Apple products, and Vestin says native integration with Siri and HomeKit has become a critical convenience feature. In his own home, he relies on voice control daily.
“The ability to say a command and walk into a room and say you want the lights to turn on is crucial. I can do it off my watch, iPad or laptop.”
Changing Perceptions About Smart Homes
Steinberg says many homeowners still assume that home automation will look bulky or be difficult to use. C4Yourself events help overcome those misconceptions by allowing people to see how the technology blends into their own routines and décor.
“You cannot see any of it, but you can feel it. It is meant to be built into your home and integrated into your lifestyle, not to be out in front of your face.”
Vestin adds that bad experiences with older or poorly designed systems often shape customer expectations, and events like this help reset those assumptions by showing what modern automation should feel like.
