Welcome to this year’s rePLAY CEDIA Expo event! This recap of CEDIA Expo 2024 is hosted by managing editor at rAVe [PUBS], Steph Beckett, and editor-in-chief of LAVNCH [CODE], Megan A. Dutta. This year’s CEDIA Expo was another huge success, and we can only tell you about so much of it, so make sure to visit our microsite for our full coverage from the show.

This year’s rePLAY jumped straight into an interview with our first guest, Jason McGraw, the group vice president of Emerald, who owns CEDIA and CIX Expo. McGraw was proud of the variety of lighting solutions at this year’s expo, saying there were “far more lighting manufacturers and lighting control systems than anticipated.” He also pointed out the growth in security solutions and micro-LED display manufacturers, but he was most excited about the direct-view displays’ “stunning quality,” with a wide color range and deep blacks that make them perfect for home-theater setups. McGraw pointed out how important home theaters have been in CEDIA’s history, saying the thrill and connection consumers get from experiencing the entertainment industry at home continue to be a major draw. McGraw wrapped up by celebrating the networking opportunities the expo provides, calling it the “homecoming week” of the industry. “It’s not just about the products — it’s about reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and opening your mind to fresh ideas for your projects.”

After the insights from Jason McGraw, Steph and Megan jumped into some product recaps, one of which was about the Amp Genie (see below). This is a signal-sensing automatic audio receiver that plugs into the same place where your receiver already is and helps you stay organized if you have lots hooked up to it. If you have multiple things like a TV, turntable, etc., this product helps you know what to send live so that you don’t have to manually change the inputs. They also talked about the Light and Green Harmony family of wall-recessed step and bubble lights, Coastal Source’s Pathfinder omnidirectional speaker, and even more. (To catch the full list of products featured and to see the product videos, to watch the whole event on demand.)

We were then joined by Gary Kayye, co-founder and director of THE rAVe Agency, who thinks this year’s show was the “best CEDIA Expo in six or seven years,” and says the trade show has lots of momentum. Kayye went through some of the products that were awarded rAVe’s Best of CEDIA Expo 2024, starting with the toughest category: Best Overall New Residential Product. The winner? Samsung S95D with OLED Glare-Free Technology. Kayye also highlighted the Planar Illuminate Ultra W Series and the LG OLED EVO Z3 as other award winners, among many others. (See the full list and product videos from award winners at the link above.)

Our last guest was Arlen Schweiger, editor-in-chief of CEPro, who shared his excitement about the growing relationship between design and technology on the show floor, saying “it’s clear that manufacturers are developing more products that are interior design-friendly.” He thinks it is important for design professionals to attend these events alongside dealers and that collaborations between the two are leading to solutions like wall mounts that seamlessly blend with surrounding surfaces and small-aperture loudspeakers that maintain a room’s aesthetic, like Waterfall Audio’s Niagara XT (see below), which has a leather base and glass all around, making it design-friendly and honestly gorgeous! Schweiger also highlighted the growing personalization options for designers to add subtle touches to their projects, such as RTI keypads with custom engraving and icons for subsystems like lighting and audio.

That’s all for this recap! Click here to watch rePLAY CEDIA Expo 2024 on demand, and if you haven’t already, check out the recap for Commercial Integrator Expo 2024 next.