The world of custom integration never rests, and if this week’s happenings are anything to go by, they might be getting even busier.
While the summer months are usually where outdoor installations get to shine, it seems that an overabundance of homeowners are more interested in getting a home theater installed, instead.
Even though this stands to be a shorter business week due to the Fourth of July, there were still some big developments that came to the CE Pro news desk.
So, if you haven’t had the time to keep up with everything this week, let the Weekly Rewind tune you back in to the goings-on of custom integration.
Homeowners Seek Professional Home Theater Installers in Droves
P11irom – stock.adobe.com
A recent trend report put out by Yelp highlighted a dramatic shift in consumer interest for home theaters in 2024.
According to Yelp, the number of on-site users looking for quotes on a home theater installation skyrocketed 562% in 2024. If true, that is some colossal demand being seen on the consumer side, though it wasn’t stated in the report what consumers were willing to pay for these projects.
However, that demand hasn’t seemed to have translated to a substantial amount of business on the professional side, as CE Pro’s recent market research found the median number of home theater installations went down in 2024.
It could be all this interest is occurring more in the lower to middle markets. Either way, that’s a considerable number of homeowners that are starting to take interest in dedicated media rooms.
Read the full article: Searches for Home Theater Installers Surged 562% in 2024, According to Yelp
Arlen Schweiger Joins RISE Media Strategy
Arlen Schweiger and Bob Archer before Richie Sambora interview. Photo/Bob Archer
RISE this week announced the appointment of Arlen Schweiger as Director of Content for the team.
The former Editor-in-Chief for CE Pro, Arlen has nearly two decades of experience within the AV industry, which include time spent on the editorial teams of Commercial Integrator, Security Sales & Integration, and Electronic House as well.
Krissy Rushing Tomlin, CEO and Co-Founder of RISE Media Strategy described Schweiger as an “undisputed rock star” in the industry when speaking on his appointment.
In his new role, Schweiger will spearhead RISE’s content strategy, overseeing the production of blogs, press releases and case studies.
Read the full article: Arlen Schweiger Named Director of Content for RISE Media Strategy
KEF’s Nothing Collaboration Produces a Unique Set of Headphones
The partnership between Nothing and KEF, has produced arguably one of the most unique headphone solutions on the market. Photo/KEF
For those who might have been looking for a more barebones, “raw” look to their headphones, the new KEF collaboration with Nothing (R) should scratch that itch.
The new headphones incorporate a custom-built 40 mm dynamic driver, and offer a host of options including ANC (active noise cancelling) and spatial audio all within a bold design package provided by Nothing.
Additionally, the headphones employ a bevvy of tactile controls over digital, another signature aspect of Nothing’s design philosophy.
According to KEF, the Headphone (1) is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Nothing, so it’s safe to assume that other collaborations between the two are likely planned in the near future.
Read the full article: KEF Collaboration with Nothing Produces Headphone (1) Immersive Audio Solution
Crestron Releases Home OS 4.6
Crestron
In its ongoing updates to the Crestron Home platform, the home automation company has unveiled OS 4.6, bringing with it quite a few additions to one area of control in particular: whole-home audio.
The OS 4.6 upgrade adds a dedicated “Music” tile to the home screen, which displays album artwork and offers quick access to audio controls. Users can also add rooms and change sources without having to navigate out of the main music menu.
Additionally, the update adds top playlists, stations and artists directly to the source selection screen.
There’s also plenty of additional updates in the new OS as well, including improved intercom capabilities and support for DM NVX 385 AV-over-IP distribution.
Read the full article: Crestron Home OS 4.6 Puts Music Control at the Forefront of Smart Home Experience
Home of the Year’s Early-Bird Deadline Ends Soon
Early bird submissions for the 2025 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards are closing soon. Integrators looking to capitalize on the discount submission rates are advised to get started on their project application before the cut off date of July 7, 2025.
There are numerous categories in which to submit your entry — from Best Whole-House/Smart Home Project to Best Budget-Compromises Project.
Integrators can also gain accolades for Best New Technologies, or Combo Design + Tech Project, among many others.
Winners will be selected by a seasoned panel of judges and Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each of the categories will be announced during CEDIA Expo 2025, which will run September 5-7 in Denver.
Apply Here: Submissions for the 2025 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards Open
