This article is part of our ongoing coverage from CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025. Stay tuned to CE Pro for in-depth insights, analysis, and recaps from the largest professional smart home trade show in the U.S.
The lead-up to CEDIA Expo 2025 carried a sense of anticipation unlike any other I’ve experienced in my 25 years covering this industry. By the time the doors opened in Denver, it was clear the event would deliver.
The show floor was alive with energy. Manufacturers showcased innovative products, dealers came ready to engage, and the week proved to be both fun and productive. From eye-catching demos to meaningful conversations, the expo underscored why it remains the premier gathering place for the smart home channel.
Based on my conversations with exhibitors, many noted not only strong traffic but also the quality of dealers in attendance. That combination of enthusiastic manufacturers and engaged integrators made for a week that left the industry optimistic about the year ahead.
CEDIA Expo 2025: Not Your Father’s Custom Installation Event
A highlight of the Crestron booth was the company’s Configure Pro dealer software. (photo credit: Bob Archer CE Pro)
Hopping back into my DeLorean for a moment and going back 25 years, that era was marked by the allure of high-end, luxury home theater and a cascade of breakthrough video technologies. From the late 1990s and into the early 2000s technologies and formats such as DVD and HD video, as well as the introduction of flat-panel TVs, DLP and LCoS chips for projectors, and more advanced surround sound formats, the heights of home theater soared.
The housing crash back in 2008 helped to usher in a new direction for custom installation led by wireless networking technologies and a shift towards more user-friendly control and automation solutions.
At CEDIA Expo 2025 the smart home industry showed it is maturing from the early days of the post-housing crash era. Companies like Hunter Douglas demonstrated the level of innovation and customization it offers through its product line and dealer support mechanisms through its line of motorized shade products.
Another shade company that demonstrated innovation at the show was Shade Innovations. In the company’s booth, which was jointly shared with sister brand Screen Innovations, the Texas-based manufacturer showed its new motor products that offer RF, Zigbee, and RF/PoE options, and a new 1kW PoE switch that is cost effective for dealers.
Moving onto lighting, DMF Lighting featured several impressive products in its booth. Taking center stage for the manufacturer was its Artafex Linear, which provides integrators with an architectural-grade linear lighting solution that includes solder-free connectivity. The other high-profile product in the booth with DMF’s digital lighting product: PhaseX.
Maybe not as outwardly flashy as some of the new lighting and shade products, but continuing the theme of smart home technologies, Crestron displayed its new Configure system programming tool. The free tool will be available to Mac, Android, and later, iOS users, and not only does it streamline system programming, but Crestron’s smart home platform also provides integration for DoorBird’s line of products, as well as the Apple Music and Amazon Music services integration.
One other eye-catching product the N.J.-based company had in its booth was its new mini remote control.
AV Still Has its Place in the Smart Home
While maybe not as sexy or hot as lighting and shades, home AV is still alive and well on the floors of CEDIA Expo 2025.
Giving show attendees a glimpse at what’s on the horizon, the 8K Association showed a variety of 8K content, including gaming, and it provided panel sessions that covered topics such as content creation.
Some of the noteworthy AV solutions on the expo show floor included the Kaleidescape ecosystem, which was on full display. In particular, the Calif.-based company’s Strato E player is a game changer for homeowners that had dreamed about having a Kaleidescape home entertainment system but could not afford it. Screen Innovations new Black Diamond Fusion looks to be an exciting product for dealers addressing projection installations in rooms with ambient light. The new ALR screen was engineered to address the shortcomings of SI’s previous generation of ALR screens.
Leaning into the lifestyle, smart home element of today’s installations, Epson featured several interesting projection system demonstrations using its ultra-short throw (UST) and its high-performance Q Series products.
Just Video Walls and Skyworth also showcased solutions that each respective brand developed that combine lifestyle-friendly smart home art TV solutions and products that are designed to deliver high levels of image quality.
A couple of other AV companies that were showing standout solutions at CEDIA Expo 2025 were Lenbrook’s NAD brand and MadVR Labs.
Bob Archer Top CEDIA Expo 2025 Products
- Meridian UHD 121 HDMI Controller: Works with eARC and ARC, and the product via HDMI-CEC enables users to control their TVs and Meridian systems from a remote control, including an Apple TV remote.
- Apex Technologies Power Systems: The wizards at Apex were showing a UPS-based power solution that includes isolation transformers to help better regulate the power within a home to help lighting fixtures run better with improved power consistency, while extending their longevity.
- Arcam Plus Series Amplifiers: Designed to provide high levels of value-minded performance, these components feature new power supplies, lower noise floors, and new industrial designs.
- DALI M-80A In-Ceiling Speaker: Unlike many in-ceiling speakers that have an objective of creating wide fields of dispersions DALI took a different approach with the M-80A to make the speakers produce a more targeted dispersion pattern.
- MadVR Labs: Broadening its product line with new products and features, the company’s product line offers a host of features such as VRR, ALLM, a gaming mode, AI-based upscaling to 8K, sub-title management, and non-linear stretch.
Thank you to the CE Pro Community
The CE Pro Women to Watch 2205 Smart Stage panelists from left to right: Katye Bennett, KMB Communications; Sarah Dresher, Luxury Integrated Technologies; Maryellen Oswald, Somfy; Krista Haughey, AudioQuest; and Hagan Kappler, Daisy. (photo credit: Bob Archer CE Pro)
In addition, thank you to the women that helped make the CE Pro 40 Women to Watch (W2W) list and companion CEDIA Expo 2025 panel so successful. On the W2W committee I would like to thank Maryellen Oswald from Somfy, Katye Bennett from KMB Communications, and Sarah Dresher from Luxury Integrated Technologies, for their massive input into the formation of the list. Moreover, thank you to Maryellen, Katye and Sarah for taking part in the W2W Smart Stage Session with Hagan Kappler from Daisy, and Krista Haughey from AudioQuest. The panel discussion was an absolute home run in my biased opinion.
Finally, I would like to tip my cap or if you are into martial arts and give a bow to some people. First, Emerald and the CEDIA Expo 2025 staff led by Jason McGraw for the great support given to the CE Pro All Star Band. From the choice of the rehearsal space (Rocket Space) to the backline rental from Kaleidoscope Productions, and the choice of Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom. Of course, it goes without saying, thank you to the band members for spending countless hours practicing on their own before we even met at Rocket Space for rehearsals.
