Architectural speakers used to be considered niche, but as smart-home living continues to gain popularity and homeowners look for more discreet solutions, these speakers are making their way into more home theaters and multiroom audio systems than ever before. Homebuilders have noticed, and a growing number are looking to include AV in their new construction projects, shaking up a notoriously conservative industry in the process.
No stranger to industry disruption, leading audio brand Sonos is helping curious homebuilders realize the value of the smart-home opportunity ahead with flexible and scalable solutions that resonate with homeowners.
Education Fosters Smart Home Technology Adoption
EJ Fitzpatrick, Principal Product Manager for Sonos, notes that smart home installations typically fall into three categories: security, convenience, and experience. Within security and convenience the most sought-after products include smart locks, video doorbells, security systems, and programmable thermostats.
To take the smart home experience to the next level, Fitzpatrick emphasizes the significant value that home audio systems provide homeowners, elevating their daily lives and routines. In fact, in many parts of the United States, a smart home isn’t considered complete without it.
“Installed and integrated audio systems provide tremendous benefits not only to homeowners, but also during the sales process,” Fitzpatrick explains. “Playing warm and inviting music during the showing process helps potential buyers envision themselves living in the space, further increasing the perceived value of the home.”
“It’s essential for integrators to help educate builders on both the value of the opportunity and the processes involved,” Fitzpatrick stresses. “For example, it’s significantly easier and more cost effective to prewire a home before installing drywall, which means a better ROI for the builder,” he continues. “Collaboration at the start of the project also allows the builder to think through all the functionality in the home.”
Many consumers, however, don’t place audio in the smart home category. Some will even further divide the audio category into home audio and home theater, he explains. But, Sonos defies these perceptions, with a platform that offers both whole-home audio, home AV surround sound, and seamless integration with a variety of smart home devices and solutions.
As the smart home has evolved, Fitzpatrick also points out, home control of these products and systems has grown more advanced due to the rapid development of smart devices such as iOS and Android products. More recently he says that on top of apps and whole-home control and automation systems, voice control technologies have become another popular way to control smart home products.
In addition to changing public perception of smart-home products, Sonos has also observed their growing demands for discreet devices that don’t distract from the design of their home.
“Bigger isn’t necessarily better anymore,” says Fitzpatrick. “We’ve seen this with the popularity of products like the Samsung Frame, as well as the success of Sonos Architectural, our line of integrated speakers optimized for Sonos Amp. Developers and clients are investing more in the aesthetics of their homes. They want all of their home technology, including audio, to blend in, which ultimately enhances the experience they want to have in their home.”
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