Oh Resideo, will you ever stop breaking headlines? Turns out the answer is no, at least for now, as the company has made yet another massive announcement. The only difference is now, instead of turning heads over another massive acquisition: it’s splitting apart.
ADI Global Distribution, the low-voltage distribution arm of Reisdeo is getting a chance to stand on its own through a tax-free spin-off to Resideo shareholders. We’ll have to see how that turns out. The finals of the deal aren’t even inked yet and already ADI is hinting at a strategic growth strategy in the works.
Meanwhile, the housing market continues its downward trajectory as sales and production for single-family homes keep dropping. We’ll be curious to see how that segment of the industry plays out next year when we circle back for our State of the Industry.
Until then, we’ll be keeping you connected with all the biggest news stories in professional AV and smart home installation on this week in Playback.
Sony Crowned “King” of OLEDs
After a strong showing in the SDR category Sony’s BRAVIA II OLED TV was crowned King of TV by Value Electronics for 2025. Photo/Sony
Value Electronics has named the Sony K65XR80M2 Bravia 8 II OLED TV as the “King of TV” for 2025 following its annual TV Shootout event held July 26 in Scarsdale, N.Y.
The competition compared flagship models from Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic in both SDR and HDR categories using reference mastering monitors and expert calibration.
Sony’s XR80M2 led in SDR performance and had the highest overall average score across all categories, while Panasonic’s Z95B edged out Samsung’s S95F in HDR by just 0.01 points. That’s no small feat considering this was also the first time that Panasonic has had a TV included in the lineup in a long while.
Read the full article: Value Electronics Crowns Sony K65XR80M2 2025 “King of TV”
New Epson Projector Lineup to be Powered by Bose Audio
Bob Archer – CE Pro
Bose is finding another way to get into the sightlines of integrators, albeit in a tangential way. The company has partnered up with Epson to launch a new line of projectors featuring “Sound by Bose” technology, with the first model expected to arrive in the U.S. in September 2025.
The collaboration aims to deliver an all-in-one, immersive audiovisual experience by combining Epson’s compact projection tech with Bose’s custom audio system with both companies planning to expand the lineup after launch. Granted, now that the company owns McIntosh and Sonus faber, I’m sure there are plenty of audiophiles out there that would love to see those audio systems baked into a projector.
Read the full article: Epson to Launch New Projector Line Powered by Bose Audio
Home Production, Sales Continue to Weaken
Original Image/Gorodenkoff – stock.adobe.com
Single-family starts declined 4.6% in June, according to HUD and Census data, and existing home sales fell 2.7% as houses continue to stay on the market longer, leading to a rising inventory. Only prices aren’t going down.
Despite that uptick in inventory, the U.S. housing supply still sits at historic lows, which is causing prices to keep rising regardless. That, combined with stubbornly high mortgage rates being kept afloat by economic fears of tariff-driven inflation, has made the usually booming summer market come to a standstill.
This is some silver lining, however, as luxury home sales and remodels continue to show resilience, but even the former of those is starting to show signs of slowing down.
Read the full article and analysis: Single-Family Home Sales and Construction Numbers Continue to Weaken in June
Ascendo Debuts Newer, Bigger Infrasonic Subs
ASCENDO
ASCENDO has unveiled the next generation of its infrasonic subwoofers with the launch of the 64-inch THE64 SUB PRO and 100-inch THE100 SUB PRO, making them the world’s largest subwoofers for home cinema use.
Replacing the company’s previous 50- and 80-inch models, the new sealed passive units feature redesigned suspension systems, custom surround tooling, and optimized enclosures for deeper extension and improved sonic precision at infrasonic frequencies.
Both models include field-replaceable re-cone kits for enhanced serviceability and are engineered for ultra-low group delay and reduced system resonance.
Read the full article: ASCENDO Announces THE64 SUB PRO, THE100 SUB PRO Infrasonic Subwoofers
Resideo Spins-Off ADI Distribution Arm
Resideo
Resideo and ADI are going their separate ways–amicably, of course–with the former announcing it will be spinning off its distribution arm into a separate, publicly traded company through a tax-free transaction to shareholders.
Post-separation, Resideo will retain its Products & Solutions division, focused on residential controls and sensing, while ADI will continue as a low-voltage distributor serving residential and commercial markets. And for anyone wondering: Snap One and its products will be going with ADI post-separation.
Current leaders Rob Aarnes (ADI) and Tom Surran (P\&S) will head the respective entities, as CEO Jay Geldmacher steps down following the transition.
Read the full article and analysis: Resideo Plans to Spin Off ADI Distribution, Creating Two Distinct Public Companies
Shade Controls Market Explodes in Growth
Savant
CE Pro research found that in 2024, the median number of shades per project reached 10, with an average total cost of $25,000 per job. Additionally, the data revealed that the number of large-scale shading projects was also rising. Twenty-six percent of projects in 2023 topped $50,000, up from just 14 percent the year before. It’s clear that this category is gaining traction fast, and CE Pro is once again turning to integrators to help map out where the market is heading next.
Take the 2025 Shade Controls Deep Dive Survey to have your voice heard, as well as get a shot at winning a $100 Amazon gift card.
