CEDIA Expo 2023 Day 1: Initial Thoughts from the Show Floor
CEDIA Expo 2023 (and by extension Commercial Integrator Expo) Day 1 have been off to a phenomenal start. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. See as I hold down the fort during the show, my colleagues have been the ones experiencing everything firsthand, so forgive the title. That being said, between my discussions with them and manufacturers running news about the show, I feel as though I have a pretty good picture to base my initial thoughts on how everything has been going so far while the team does their rounds.
While AI is certainly the topic on everyone’s mind one Day 1 of CEDIA Expo, it’s certainly not in everyone’s booths (though if you look at some of the BEST award winners that’s a different story). That’s not to say there isn’t a lot to look at. Quite the contrary. If anything, this year’s tradeshow has put forward some of the most eye-catching innovations in the smart home industry yet (DEN SmartStrike and Legrand’s KolorTune get my shout out). It’s enough to get me excited for when AI finally reaches full adoption.
Above all, though, Day 1 of CEDIA Expo 2023 was a day of celebration. From the return of the CE Pro All-Star Band to the myriad of award ceremonies highlighting the best of the best in the smart home space, everyone experiencing a mile-high to be together again.
Of course, listening to me give my initial thoughts about this year’s CEDIA Expo can only give you so much of an idea of what’s going on. The CE Pro Twitter account (I know it’s X but I’m just going to keep calling it Twitter) has been sharing plenty of pictures and videos, but I figured I would put together a virtual photo tour of sorts for everyone that couldn’t make it to the show this year.
Seems like even the local giant wildlife is interested to see what’s going on as CEDIA Expo 2023 opens. Photo/Arlen Schweiger“What we’re seeing is that the next 10 years [of AI] are likely to bring more change than the prior 10,000 years ever did,” says Scott Steinberg during his opening keynote. Sounds like an exciting time to be in the industry. Photo/Zachary ComeauEver the one to impress, Leon Speakers was out to prove with the right treatment, any piece of technology in the home can become its own art piece (as seen here with is new soundbar framing). Photo/Zachary ComeauSnap One made an appearance at both Commercial Integrator and CEDIA Expo this year, the latter having such a large booth presence, it would be rather difficult to document everything that was going on there. Just know it’s A LOT. Photo/Arlen SchweigerLighting being the powerhouse it is has made many manufacturers step up their booth game from previous years. Seen here is AiSPiRE’s team giving Editor-in-Chief Arlen Schweiger a rundown of the brand’s four lighting experiences. Photo/Arlen SchweigerAccess control, or whatever you want to call it, has always been a competitive market, so it’s always fun to see how the different companies differentiate themselves. DoorBird’s approach is, among many things, developing some stylish intercom systems. Photo/Arlen SchweigerAre these the crowds trying to get to all the booths on the show floor, or is this just the line to check out Josh’s booth? Photo/Zachary ComeauTouring around LG’s booth, we see the newly released 118-inch MAGNIT microLED wall, as well as just about every other display under the sun. The company said it was going to be doubling down TV production for the professional space, so if this is a sign of things to come, I think the channel can expect a lot of good in the future. Photo/Zachary ComeauGiven how many CE pros got their start in car audio, it’s almost nostalgic to see the industry’s roots shine through. Is it an excuse to look at really cool cars and cool car accessories I’ll never be able to afford? Yes, but that’s besides the point. Photo/Arlen SchweigerYou’ve seen The Wall commercial. You’ve seen The Wall residential. Well now Samsung has The Wall All-in-One to make installations even easier than they were before. Photo/Zachary ComeauHopping off the show floor, there was no shortage of interesting educational sessions through CEDIA and Commercial Integrator Expo. Photo/Zachary ComeauWith CEDIA Expo 2022’s keynote being on the topic of streaming, it’s fascinating to see that discussion continues on the topic of sports, especially given all the moves that have happened with sports broadcasting recently. Photo/Zachary ComeauIt’s always been an unspoken fact that a lot of the top integrators work both residential and commercial projects, but at this show more than others, manufacturers have openly embraced the dual marketing approach. Take URC’s booth for instance, which had quite the impressive visuals and setup this year. Photo/Arlen SchweigerThe CE Pro All-Star Band closed out the show with a killer performance. Photo/Arlen SchweigerFrom one celebration to the next, Day One saw ceremonies for the CE Pro HOTY and BEST awards, as well as CEDIA’s 2023 Smart Home awards and Lutron Excellence Awards (pictured). Good work to everyone who won by the way. You certainly deserve it. Photo/Arlen Schweiger
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Nick Boever is the former editor of DesignWell and current Web Editor of CE Pro. With a focus on wellness and sustainability, he is constantly searching for new and emerging technologies improving the health and wellbeing of people and the planet through the built environment. In his off-time he can be found in the workshop, writing, or relaxing at the top of a mountain.
In addition to the introduction of its ADEC Technologies, StormAudio is also adding Hyperstream IV ESS Sabre DACs to its hardware, and it is rolling out new software.
