Actually they are in every major city I've been to. Look up Bird.

We just don't see eye to eye on much.

Voice control? Automation for the masses? Remote management platforms? Simplified integration? Simplified Video Tilling and video walls?

Seriously, name a time when there was more constant innovations. Because you choose to look the other way doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Don't worry, I'm not worried about you not meaning to be a dick. Just if you are already an expert on everything they were showing at the show, I bow to you.

Theory Audio was pretty cool. Soundbar with on wall speakers and a 9 channel amp to power all the speakers with built in DSP for under $10k retail.
5.2.2 system was being demo'd.

Those Coastal Source speakers were pounding out music.

Ambisonic Systems showed a really great sounding landscape speaker system with ribbon tweeters and a new outdoor amplifier.

Josh.AI and Neeo remotes were really neat, but not yet ready for use.

All we're seeing is a lot of DIY IoT BS products that may "wow" consumers, but it is all pretty "meh". Cheap Chinese shit.

Uhhhh. This is the worst time to be in this industry as things transition to shitier more DIY driven devices and trying to integrate the requests. We can’t even rely on our own industry juggernauts to keep things at bay anymore. There is so much integration now and no communication so when a client hits update it breaks everything. Then on top of that the devices that people want don’t even fully integrate (ala ring and Sonos)

This is the WORST time to be in the industry. Not to mention half baked boring things being released at cedia.

I applaud your optimism and new found confidence in this industry. You seem to still really enjoy it from your posts in other threads, especially the portal thread.

I arrived yesterday and walked in at the far end First booth I saw was Monoprice. Had to have 10-15 people at that booth. Crazy I thought. Next booth had a “smart” motorized moving sunshade ultra high end look and feel integration and expensive. That’s what I see low cost DIY solutions along side Trinnov and $40,000 processors. Feels like the middle area is shrinking and the high and low end products are exploding

Artisan ip sound bars. Everything going with some type of built in DSP. 8K projectors. Video wall options “.9 dot pitch led panels” innovative mounts from FA Mantel Mounts and others vastly improved video over IP solutions. True mesh networking options and more price points. Better work vehicles and organization solutions.
Overall nothing except the 8K projectors made me want to say “WOW” but I’m very happy with what I’m seeing and very happy to be in this industry.

Every dealer I talked to seems super busy and happy half the guys I know couldn’t make it because they are so busy. Seems like it’s pretty good out there to me

I do miss 10 years ago. A lot more booth babes ;)

Neeo was interesting (especially with the Control4 integration) but it's not there yet. Not nearly enough hard buttons on the thing. Stupid omission.

I felt the same slick remote but lack of more hard buttons doesn’t make sense

No, you have it wrong. Learn to tell people you have a better product. “What you have is what I would call a ‘hobbyist’ product, meant for a do-it-yourselfer who doesn’t mind troubleshooting himself when it has problems. I use a product that is proven to work, so you won’t have to speed dial me when you get frustrated with your DIY product. If you want me to set yours up, I will try to do so, but without a warranty - trouble calls will be billed at regular rates.”


Come on.

Last time I checked neeo still hasn’t fulfilled there Kickstarter pledges. People still haven’t received what they ordered. Still doesn’t do half the things they first promised on their kickstarter and now they are saying those are taking a back burner.

I like the remote. Really slick looking. Though as an option for my clients where I can use it for a multitude of solutions it just isn’t there yet. For a diy one room solution to fight harmony I’m sure it’ll give its best at it and hopefully it’ll have a good crack at it.

Aaaannnd we are back to SONOS! lol

That’s the problem. Are tried and true systems don’t do the things clients want. Take C4s door station for instance...it’s $2000-2500 bucks and doesn’t do half the things ring does. The camera is shitty and the new intercom anywhere system is a separate app that is barely working. I cannot tell you the amount of fun conversations I’ve had over the last year with my clients wondering why their 2000 door station doesn’t do what a $200 ring does.

This is just one tiny example. Should I go on?

“Sir, I don’t have a good solution right now.”

Don’t install overpriced junk even from your favorite supplier.


Sure!

How are the new landscape offerings from MSE?

I played with one of the first releases and it was most certainly not ready for prime time. It looked pretty in its charger, but didn't sit in your hand well (it wants to slide out) the omission of hard buttons and inability to deal with AVR zone 2's / 3's is a disaster.
Interesting that they weren't originally looking to partner with distributors in the States or indeed around the world, now they're all about CI and distribution!