Spring is (basically) here, and that means AV roadshows are in full force! I love to attend a roadshow whenever one makes an appearance in North Carolina because it gives me a lot of face time with manufacturers that I otherwise might not get. When I realized Sennheiser was taking a tour around the U.S., I was thrilled to see one of the stops was basically right in rAVe’s neighborhood.

So, without further ado, here’s what I saw and learned at the Sennheiser Connect & Collaborate Roadshow.

First of all, know that this roadshow is meant to be fun as well as educational. That’s why Sennheiser is hosting most stops at Topgolf locations, combining learning and networking with a bit of friendly competition. The day starts with CTS RU-approved classes, followed by hands-on time with Sennheiser and its partner brands. And, of course, attendees get the chance to unwind and play a few rounds of golf together.

While I didn’t sit in every class, I did get a chance to speak to Sennheiser reps, the company’s manufacturer partners and even a few attendees. What I gathered about the point of the event is this: It’s all about collaboration. Sennheiser is collaborating with other brands in the UC space to strengthen its products. We’re collaborating by attending this event. We’re taking this opportunity to learn from one another.

In the interview below with Sennheiser’s Alesia Hendley, she walks me through just how important this is.

Products

Let’s talk product now. I got to spend some time getting to know a few Sennheiser products a little bit better. First up are the TeamConnect Ceiling 2 and TeamConnect Ceiling Medium. In this video, we compare them side by side so you can learn a little about the TCC M’s intelligent noise control and how this microphone can tell the difference between a person speaking and ambient noise — something very important when it comes to integrating with camera tracking.

Next, we take a look at Sennheiser’s EW DX EM 4, a four-channel wireless receiver with just 1.9 milliseconds of latency. The system now includes new mic options — a handheld, beltpack or gooseneck, giving users more flexibility for different environments.

Finally, let’s check out the TeamConnect Bar series. I’ve mentioned before that video bars are plentiful in our industry, but I do really like this one. These have beamforming technology, and what I really like is that Sennheiser incorporated Dante with them so that you can integrate other Sennheiser microphones with the bar if you want to.

Partners

I mentioned before that Sennheiser brought along some manufacturer partners. Some conducted a few of the other courses offered during the day, but they also had booths set up inside the room so you could speak to these reps between the educational sessions. Here are a few (but not all!) of them:

Planar

Planar is attending the roadshow and is bringing along a few different LED manufacturing product options. From Chip-on-Board to Glue-on-Board, Planar brings a few different modules and is happy to talk to you about options and what’s best for what application type.

MAXHUB

MAXHUB brought along a few different things to this stop of the Roadshow, and all are aimed at making meetings easier. From Version 7 of its IFP to its BM 45 speakerphone, the products in the below video are all packed with technology and include some pretty cool updates.

NETGEAR

NETGEAR showcased its M4250 switches and its new Wi-Fi 7 Access Point, highlighting how this latest standard dramatically improves speed and latency. One standout feature? NETGEAR’s access point can hit speeds of up to 5 Gbps on the 5 GHz band, meaning smoother 4K/8K video streaming and wireless conferencing without bottlenecks.

So, as you can tell, I learned some things at the Sennheiser Connect & Collaborate Roadshow. But so did the other attendees. One I spoke to, Holt Stephens, who works at ClarkPowell, said that he liked how the event was structured to be equal parts classes, networking and fun.

“Sometimes you go to these things, and it’s the same thing over and over,” he said. “But this was broken really well into bite-sized segments.”

The Connect & Collaborate Roadshow is still making stops across the U.S., and there’s plenty of time to attend. If you want a hands-on look at the latest in AV tech — and an excuse to swing a golf club while you’re at it — check out the full schedule here.