One key theme from CEDIA Expo 2024 was the return of the home theater, and the category was everywhere, starting with the keynote to the show floor and countless demos.
Manufacturers routinely explained to CE Pro editors that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a renewed interest in home entertainment systems due to lockdowns and remote work, and that demand is still being realized in 2024.
In fact, CE Pro’s own research into home entertainment validates those claims. The 2024 CE Pro Home Entertainment Deep Dive found that integrators are seeing a 43% spike in dedicated home theater room projects to a $62,500 median price year-over-year. In addition, a 3.5% increase in overall category is predicted for 2024.
Immersive audio and new display technologies dominated the CEDIA Expo show floor, and here are some that we thought warranted some closer attention.
AVPro and AudioControl unveiled a suite of new products that aim to provide integrators with comprehensive home theater solutions. The companies, which merged when AVPro Global acquired AudioControl last year, highlighted the “marriage of technology” that brings together AVPro’s HDMI expertise and AudioControl’s audio prowess.
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
“This year is really the marriage of technology, bringing the best in audio, the best in video, and then that brings us to us developing new products around that,” said Tom Devine, director of marketing for AVPro Global Holdings.
One of the key products showcased was the Bijou, a line of small form factor integrated eARC amplifiers that combine GaN amplification and Dante networking. With models like the Bijou 2100, 3100, and Dante-enabled 5100, these amplifiers offer unmatched power, efficiency, and flexibility. Whether enhancing a home theater or setting up a multi-room audio system, the Bijou Series delivers superior sound quality, seamless integration, and future-proof solutions for modern AV installations.
In addition to the small form factor which allows it to be installed behind a TV, Devine highlighted the eARC functionality, which allows users to keep their AV setups simple and leverage the streaming apps already available in smart TVs. By leveraging eARC technology, the Bijou line allows customers to enjoy immersive audio from their smart TVs without the need for complex setups or additional remote controls.
“Now all they need is their TV and maybe a nice sound bar. It’s using eARC, so you can use your native TV remote to turn this volume up and down,” Devine says. “Nobody will even know that’s there.”
The Hyperion home theater receiver will be available in Q2 2025.
Looking to the future, Devine provided a preview of the award-winning Hyperion, a new home theater receiver line set to launch in Q2 2025. The receiver blends AudioControl’s legendary audio quality with AVPro Edge’s cutting-edge video technologies. It features GaN amplification, advanced HDMI management, and Dante network integration,
“We want it to look sleek. We want it to look sexy,” Devine notes, emphasizing the focus on design.
Also unveiled were several new Dante-enabled products designed to enhance integration capabilities for residential audio systems.
“Dante is so easy that if a residential person was able to learn about Dante and understand how it works, they would be able to install so much faster, maybe even minus a day off of their jobs, installation times,” Devine says.
In addition to its popular AV-over-IP and 8K distribution products AVPro Edge showcased its AC-MV-41 quad view processor, and a companion app set for beta release by the end of the year. This allows users to customize up to four video sources on a single screen. The app can also be a universal remote for connected devices such as Roku or Apple TV.
Digital Projection, a leading manufacturer of premium display solutions, introduced the Radiance Home, a large-scale LED video wall purpose-built for high-end home applications. According to Mike Akridge, Digital Projection’s product manager, the Radiance Home breaks barriers by offering systems integrators a unique and compelling solution for residential clients.
“This is really the equivalent of an all-in-one, and it’s got on-screen commands and a remote that works more like a big TV,” Akridge explained.
The Radiance Home from Digital Projection
Featuring a 0.9-inch COB (chip-on-board) flip chip LED display, the Radiance Home boasts support for 4K resolution, HDR (high dynamic range), and the REC 2020 color space. Additionally, the system includes built-in technologies and controllers to enable fast configuration of user-defined presets, Wi-Fi connectivity, and integration with third-party control systems.
The company’s forthcoming E-Vision 10000i RGB laser projector combines red, green, and blue lasers on a single chip, offering greater color performance, a smaller footprint, and easier setup compared to conventional RGB color wheel projectors. The 4K+ resolution projector can achieve up to 30,000 lumens of brightness, HDR without brightness decay, and the REC 2020 color space, with a contrast ratio between 2,400:1 and 3,000:1.
Enabling the E-Vision 10000i RGB’s advanced capabilities is the utilization of Texas Instruments’ 0.8″ HEP (high-efficiency pixel) DMD (digital micromirror device) chip and the Nexus electronics platform. The company also offers an 8K version of the projector, providing a range of resolution options to meet the needs of various residential applications.
Alongside its lineup of innovative home theater products, Samsung unveiled two new flagship projector models at the annual CEDIA Expo 2024 – the Premiere 9 and Premiere 7.
The Premiere 9 is the company’s top-of-the-line projector, boasting a brightness of up to 3,000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. The Premiere 7, on the other hand, is a more affordable option with a brightness of up to 2,200 lumens and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. Both projectors feature Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Dot technology for enhanced color accuracy and vibrancy.
Image Courtesy/Samsung
In addition to the new projector models, Samsung also unveiled a slew of other home theater products, including massive 98-inch TV models, a redesigned OLED lineup, and consumer-friendly versions of its modular “The Wall” displays.
Leading the charge were Samsung’s new 98-inch TV models, which the company says are designed to provide an alternative to projectors for those seeking a truly cinematic viewing experience. These displays feature Samsung’s super-sized picture enhancer algorithm, which the company claims can maintain clarity and sharpness even on the largest screens.
Rounding out the announcements were Samsung’s new Mini LED-based Terrace outdoor TVs, available in both full sun and partial sun variants, as well as consumer-friendly versions of the company’s modular “The Wall” displays.
Planar, unveiled its latest advancements in LED technology tailored for a wide range of markets, including home theater. The centerpiece of Planar’s showcase was the DirectLight Pro Series, a line of high-performance LED walls designed for premium home cinema applications. The DirectLight Pro offers 27-inch and 36-inch cabinets with pixel pitches as fine as 0.9mm, delivering stunning 4K resolution and 1,000-nit brightness.
According to Jeremy Sternhagen, technical marketing manager at Planar, the DirectLight Pro Series isn’t pigeon-holed into a single use case and isn’t designed for any particular vertical.
“This is the same product we put into corporate lobbies or movie studios,” Sternhagen says, adding that the product’s versatility allows for precision video walls in custom dimensions.
Visually stunning displays, like this one from Planar, are a CEDIA Expo show floor staple.
Complementing the DirectLight Pro, Planar also highlighted its Direct Light Ultra series, which the company markets for always-on, high-performance applications.
Meanwhile, the Luminate Ultra W Series LED wall is designed for outdoor viewing. It incorporates microLED technology for enhanced black levels and high brightness in direct sunlight. It can be configured to perfectly match Full HD and Ultra HD resolutions, and supports viewing from as close as eight feet with up to 3000-nit brightness.
Sony unveiled the BRAVIA Projector 8 and BRAVIA Projector 9 at the show, showcasing its new native 4K-laser home cinema projectors. The projectors are under the BRAVIA naming convention, which signals a uniting of Sony’s home entertainment lineup, including its BRAVIA TVs.
The projectors feature 2,700 lumens and 3,400 lumens of brightness, respectively, but the big upgrade is the processor, says JT Austin, Sony’s product training and customer engagement manager.
The Sony Bravia projectors are under the BRAVIA naming convention, which signals a uniting of Sony’s home entertainment lineup.
“The big change is upgrading the processor to our flagship TV processor that is tuned for projector,” Austin says, adding that this improves cinematic HDR and leads to deeper blacks and more detail in the shadows.
Other changes include an HDMI 2.1 on board and an “incredibly low input lag,” which Austin says for 4K120 is down to 12 milliseconds, “which is like good TV numbers and unheard of.”
LG’s booth was a hub of large-format TVs and displays, including a 163-inch 1.56-pixel pitch LG LSBB015-GD Fine Pitch Direct View LED display. The company was also showing off its direct-view LED and micro LED line of Luxury Home Displays that come in 2K to 8K configurations with screen sizes ranging form 108 inches to 325 inches.
“This is probably the newest display technology we have out there,” says David Park, a marketing manager for LG.
LG’s 163-inch 1.56-pixel pitch LG LSBB015-GD Fine Pitch Direct View LED display was a key feature of the company’s CEDIA Expo 2024 booth.
Aside from those more luxurious displays, LG was showing off its broad range of OLED TVs, which range in size from 42 inches to 97 inches.
“There’s no other manufacturer out there with the extensive OLED screen sizes we support,” Park says, noting the several different product lineups LG has in stock. “The benefit of sticking with LG is that you can outfit your whole house with the same brand with the same series.”
The Ambisonic Marquee Home Theater System by Origin Acoustics, which made its debut at CEDIA Expo is the first home theater system in the Ambisonic brand’s product portfolio. Slated for release in early 2025, the lineup features on-wall or in-wall loudspeakers.
The Ambisonic Marquee Home Theater collection includes of the bi-amped AM5600 L/C/R front speakers, AM3600 surround speakers, AM2600IC in-ceiling speakers, AM2600IC angled in-ceiling speakers, AM3600A angled surround speakers and AMB5600 10-inch in-wall subwoofer. All speakers include Ambisonic Systems renowned magnetic planar ribbon tweeter and planar ribbon coaxial, the company says.
The Ambisonic Marquee is the first home theater system from Ambisonic Systems.
“We’re bringing Ambisonic Systems’ performance and everything inside,” says Jill Escol, director of marketing for Origin Acoustics.
On that note, the company was also showing off new Ambisonic Systems soundbars with the brand’s ribbon tweeter and a custom cabinet.
“We’re starting to take it from outdoor to inside,” Escol says.
As usual, one of the busiest booths to check out new home theater audio was Harman Luxury Audio.
This year, that was the case especially thanks to a slew of new JBL wares that included everything from an impressive lower-cost JBL Stage 2 surround-sound system to new fully featured AVRs and all the way up to the six-figure JBL Synthesis demo.
The Stage 2 products and new MA (Modern Audio) lineup of components can serve as a great entry into home theater audio that may lead to scaling up in the future.
For super-high-performance JBL Synthesis, highlights included the SCL-1 speaker that employs dual 12-inch compression driver and 2.5-way design ($16,500 apiece), and SMA-4750 and SMA-8300 class D power amplifiers.
JBL’s MA models include the MA310, MA510, and MA710 AVRs plus the MA7100HP and MA9100HP – the HP standing for High Performance. The latter two incorporate configuration of 7.1 and 9.1 channels.
The MA310 includes support for 4K, Bluetooth, and 5.1 audio as more of a starter product while the MA510 and MA710 add features such as 8K, HDMI with eARC, wired and wireless streaming, and easy-to-set room EQ.
“For an extra $200 you get 8K, HDMI, more power of 75 watts,” Jim Garrett, Sr. Director, Product Strategy & Planning, Luxury Audio Business Unit at Harman says of the MA510 vs. MA310.
“This has been one of the most popular models, and of course nobody else has a white AVR on the market either,” he adds about the unique finish option that can be well-paired with white loudspeakers.
Harman has also upped its design factor with these products’ sleek and minimalist front panel.
This choice isn’t exactly breaking news because the company has garnered plenty of buzz over the past few CEDIA Expo shows, but what maybe overlooked with the buzz is the level of commitment the company has towards producing cinema-level images. Quantum’s video walls can be configured in a choice of sizes and aspect ratios to meet whatever consumer demand the company encounters.
Quantum Media Systems highlighted its new XDR Pro Cinema Video Wall at CEDIA Expo 2024. Courtesy/CEDIA Expo
Quantum Media Systems stresses that its products are manufactured under its strict quality control standards and they employ its proprietary processing technologies. The bottom line the company boasts is that its product line can deliver Hollywood-like brightness levels for SDR, EDR and HDR content to support reference quality images.
Stepping up to diversify its line of projectors, the new Q Series was featured in several system demos within Epson‘s exhibits at CEDIA Expo 2024. These standout products provide a choice of three models that range in price from $7,999 to $29,999, and the products are designed to reside in modern home spaces through their industrial designs, high-brightness capabilities, and overall picture quality capabilities.
The Epson Q Series projectors come in a choice of three models that range in price from $7,999 to $29,999.
Epson also states the line of products offers proprietary image processing technologies, 4K and HDR compatibility, and lens options to help the products integrate into a range of home settings.
Call it a soft launch or whatever you like, at the just completed CEDIA Expo 2024 the popular home audio company displayed its latest subwoofer. The sub serves as a companion to SVS’ new flagship Ultra Evolution loudspeakers, which are also standout products in the speaker category. The sub incorporates a 17-inch woofer with a dual-voice coil design. Powering the sub is a dual-mono amplifier, and SVS states that Ultra R Evolution Subwoofer utilizes advanced DSP processing and the sub includes its own, internal power regulation.
The SVS Ultra R Evolution sub serves as a companion to SVS’ new flagship Ultra Evolution loudspeakers,
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