by Bob Archer | Oct 9, 2026 | Blog
Depending on where you are in the U.S., Columbus Day Weekend is just another weekend; maybe a nice long weekend, or a notice to stay in the house while “leaf-peeping” tourists clog up the local highways.
Regardless of where you stand with Columbus Day Weekend, Friday Oct. 9 does mean it is time for a KMB Communications Technology Week in Review that includes a focus on residential technology news.
This week’s look at technology news includes items from Residential Systems, eCoustics, Systems Contractor News (SCN), Builder magazine, and LinkedIn.
Audiophile News Highlights KMB Communications Residential Technology News
Admittedly, it was a slow news week. Maybe, we’re experiencing a bit of a lull now that CEDIA Expo 2026 is well in the rear-view mirror. Looking ahead, with the holiday season looming, there should be news coming towards the end of the year with shows like CES and ISE on the horizon.
With that said, starting things off, Residential Systems posted a product item on the audiophile manufacturer Esoteric’s new “Black Editions” F-Series integrated amplifiers. The series covers the company’s F-01, F-02, and PS-01F products, and the MSRPs for the integrated amplifiers range from $5,700 to $21,000.
Continuing the audiophile theme, eCoustics has a story on the release of the 50th Anniversary box set release of Billy Joel’s “Turnstiles” record. The original record includes classic tracks such as “New York State of Mind,” “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” and “Prelude/Angry Young Man.” Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album, Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, according to eCoustics will introduce a four-disc box set for $69.98.
The four-disc set features three CDs and a Blu-ray that includes 67 audio tracks, including 54 never released recordings, along with 32 videos with 24 of those videos being previously unreleased material, and a Dolby Atmos version of the original album.
Next up on the KMB Communications tour of residential technology news for the week, LinkedIn is reporting that both Netflix and Disney are optimistic about their new licensing agreement.
The story states that through the agreement Netflix will gain access to Disney content such as the “Ice Age” movies and the “Percy Jackson” series. LinkedIn points out the agreement marks the first time that Disney+ original content will appear a competitor’s platform.
Another report from LinkedIn examines the possibility of Apple entering the smart home category in a bigger way with the introduction of a hub product.
Picking up a report from Bloomberg, the LinkedIn post says the goal with the smart home hub is to compete with companies such as Amazon and Google, and the product will be introduced on Oct. 13. Later in the post it says that compatible smart home products from LG will not be ready until a few months after the October announcement. Some of the smart home products could include doorbells, indoor cameras, and other similar smart home surveillance components.
Pro AV’s Broadcast Media Expectations
Transitioning over to the world of pro and commercial AV, SCN’s AV Network website has a story on the professional AV’s now growing expectations to meet broadcast media performance and specifically the issues of using wireless components such as microphones.
The AV Network post points out that expectations related to the installation of wireless microphones are affecting the perception of performance. One of the hurdles microphone manufacturers face meeting these high expectations are the demands placed on the limited capabilities of wireless frequency spectrum and finding free space in an increasingly crowded wireless spectrum.
Concluding KMB Communications weekly tech week in review is a non-residential technology news item that may impact the technology integration market.
Builder magazine posted a story on the impact the Baby Boomer generation still plays in the housing market. The story states that data from the National Association of Realtors finds that Baby Boomers account for 42% of home buyers and 55% of home sellers. Both figures represent the biggest share of any demographic, and older generations such as Baby Boomers and to a lesser degree, Gen X have benefitted from the housing market’s appreciation.
An important note about the state of the housing market says Builder, is that with about 80% of Baby Boomers owning their homes in 2024, and with more than half of those Boomers owning their homes without a mortgage, the demographic has financial flexibility the other demographics don’t enjoy. The issue, the story continues, is having the financial capability to move isn’t necessarily motivating these Boomer homeowners to move.
The challenge for builders the story asserts, is that builders now must create lifestyle propositions to entice people to move given these current economic conditions.
To learn more about KMB Communications’ clients, click this link.
by Bob Archer | Oct 2, 2026 | Blog
September is over and we are now firmly into the fall season with Halloween coming into view, and diving into this week’s news nuggets, this week’s home technology news roundup covers smart home developments, home theater updates, home audio and AI security
Before we get into the news however, here at KMB Comm, we are looking at our winter preparation that includes raking leaves—sigh—as well as other things such as preparing our homes and cars for the upcoming winter months.
Anyway, recapping this week’s news cycle, AI dominated the early news cycle. There was other news however, unrelated to AI in both the residential technology market and the global technology market.
This week’s news comes from eCoustics, CE Pro, Sound & Video Contractor (SV&C), Res Tech Today, and LinkedIn.
KMB Comm Smart Home, Home Theater and Audio News
Starting this week’s look at news in the home technology market is an item from SV&C. The publication picked up reports from Korean media that says that because Chinese LCD panel manufacturers are experiencing rising costs, manufacturers including LG, Sony and Samsung will be impacted before the start of the holiday season.
The post notes the price increases could have already started in September, and they may take place in October, which in turn will affect Black Friday and holiday pricing.
Up next is news from Residential Technology Today. The website is reporting that JVC has launched its JVC D-ILA Projector Training dedicated training website.
The site hosts about 45 minutes worth of training content that includes short videos, quizzes, and reference tools. The story emphasizes that dealers should contact their account managers to receive an introduction to the training website.
Getting into some home audio content, eCoustics posted a product review on the Audio Desk Systeme Glass vinyl cleaner. The review points out that there are many nice record cleaners available to music fans at a range of price points that all deliver solid results.
The review goes into why it’s necessary to clean records, and it looks at several other products on the market before taking a deeper dive on the Audio Desk Systeme Glass Vinyl Cleaner.
Wrapping up the KMB Comm tour of residential news from the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, is an Apple item from CE Pro.
Grabbing a story from Bloomberg, CE Pro’s post states that Apple will introduce a smart home hub that includes a screen, and the tech giant is expecting users to purchase several of the units to position the units throughout their homes.
CE Pro via Bloomberg adds the smart home hub’s operating system will utilize features from other Apple products such as screen icons, calendar messages, music and more.
AI Security and Other Technology News
Circling back to AI for a moment, LinkedIn featured a story on Nvidia launching an artificial intelligence security platform that’s designed to stop AI agents from going rogue.
The story says the AI security platform incorporates a pair of open-source tools—OpenShell and Sentry—and the security platform will “quarantine a suspicious agent in seconds.”
Wrapping up the KMB Comm Tech Week in Review for the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, is an item that really is not related directly to technology.
LinkedIn had an item on the musician Phoebe Bridgers tour banning phones from her “Lost Tour.” The idea behind the ban is to lock fans into the moment by eliminating the distraction of their phones.
The reviews from fans from the Phoebe Bridgers shows according to the post, have been met positively. Speculating, if this initiative goes well, there may be the possibility that more artists will follow suit.
Thinking optimistically, maybe modern concerts will go back to the days of the 1980s and 1990s where people’s engagement will be to clap and hold up lighters rather than blocking the view of others with their enormous phones blocking everyone’s’ line-of-sight.
Now that it is October, it’s time to look back at the latest KMB Communications client news via the KMB Comm-icles Recall for September 2026. That content can be found here.
by Bob Archer | Oct 1, 2026 | News
CEDIA Expo 2026 is in the books and so too is the month of September. This means it’s time for the KMB Comm-icles to look back at what just transpired in the technology integration industry over the past month.
Obviously, the CEDIA Expo occupied a large part of the news cycle for September 2026, but there were more things happening than just the Expo.
Peeking at the headlines, D-Tools, released its latest data findings for the technology integration market, and the top Midwest-based integrator Integration Controls has rolled out a new digital client service.
Getting into some of the post CEDIA Expo news, the integration firm Nerve was recognized for its Pinnacle luxury installation; Apex Technologies had two of its brands win awards, WALL-SMART had a product inducted into the CEDIA Product Hall of Fame, and D-Tools also won an award for its benchmark D-Tools Cloud solution.
Wrapping up KMB Comm news for the month of September is Nice. The global manufacturer is set to exhibit at the International Security Expo 2026 show.
KMB Comm-icles September 2026 Headline Summary
- Data by D-Tools 2026 Midyear Market Report Reveals a Widening Split in Integrator Performance
- Integration Controls Introduces Shop the Look, a New Digital Client Experience for the Custom Integration Industry
- Nerve’s Pinnacle Luxury Residence Sweeps Major Industry Awards at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Nice HySecurity Division Brings High-Security Vehicle Mitigation and Industrial Gate Automation Solutions to International Security Expo 2026
- Apex Technologies Celebrates Dual Product Honors at CEDIA Expo 2026
- WALL-SMART Universal Access Point Mount Inducted into CEDIA Product Hall of Fame; Universal Dome Camera Mount Earns Performance Home Award
- D-Tools Cloud Wins Residential Systems Best of Show Award at CEDIA Expo 2026
- HTSA Names Shaun Schuetz Managing Director, Expands Leadership Team for Next Chapter
Here is a closer look at the news that made the news in the September 2026 KMB Comm-icles:
KMB Comm-icles Highlight Awards Season for Manufacturers
The September content review has a good mix of post CEDIA Expo news and items that are more normal in tone. The September news roundup also includes several dealer-related items that range from award wins to new market initiatives.
Data by D-Tools 2026 Midyear Market Report Reveals a Widening Split in Integrator Performance
Fresh off a successful CEDIA Expo 2026 show, the popular developer of dealer software solutions released its midyear report for 2026.
Jason Knott, data solution architect at D-Tools, notes in the report that market growth is solid, but the technology integration market is forming a divide between successful companies and companies struggling with current economic conditions.
Integration Controls Introduces Shop the Look, a New Digital Client Experience for the Custom Integration Industry
The St. Louis-based company Integration Controls has launched its Shop the Look digital planning tool that is designed to help homeowners learn the technology options available to them, including the prices.
Integration Controls points out the tool enables users to explore curated levels of residential technologies from their homes or during meetings with design professionals. To help promote Shop the Look, Integration Controls will host a special VIP event on Oct. 2, and the following day it will host a public open house to showcase the tool.
Nerve’s Pinnacle Luxury Residence Sweeps Majority Industry Awards at CEDIA Expo 2026
Nerve, the Park City, Utah-based custom integration firm, had a great week at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver.
At the recent trade event, which took place on Sept. 1-4, the company was recognized for its Pinnacle project, which won the 2026 Ultimate Crestron Home in the Crestron Home Technology Awards. The company also won three CE Pro Home of the Year Awards, and a Performance Home Award from the publication, Technology Designer.
The award-winning installation features nearly 800 connected devices within about 120 product categories installed in an 18,000-square foot residence.
Nice HySecurity Division Brings High-Security Vehicle Mitigation and Industrial Gate Automation Solutions to International Security Expo 2026
Next up in the KMB Comm-icles monthly news roundup is an item from Nice. The global technology company is set to exhibit at the International Security Expo 2026 show in London.
The event takes place on September 29-30, and it will host more than 10,000 security industry professionals. Exhibiting in Stand C90, Nice will feature its StrongArm M30/M50 High-Security Vehicle Mitigation Barrier, as well as its SlideDriver II hydraulic gate operator, and its HySecurity HydraSwing swing-gate operator.
Apex Technologies Celebrates Dual Product Honors at CEDIA Expo 2026
Getting back into the topic of industry awards, Apex Technologies was honored by CE Pro and Technology Designer during the CEDIA Expo 2026 show.
CE Pro recognized the Apex Technologies brand GUDE for its GUDE Systems Expert Power Control 8290-1. Technology Designer recognized the Apex Technologies brand Future Automation for its PCV-F Projector Concealment Solution.
WALL-SMART Universal Access Point Mount Inducted into CEDIA Product Hall of Fame; Universal Dome Camera Mount Earns Performance Home Award
At CEDIA Expo 2026 WALL-SMART’s Universal Access Point Mount was inducted into the CEDIA Product Hall of Fame joining famous brands such as Lutron and THX. The Hall of Fame recognition identifies products that have significantly enriched the residential technology integration industry.
In addition, WALL-SMART also earned honors from Technology Designer winning its Performance Home Award for its Universal Flush Mount for Dome Cameras product.
D-Tools Cloud Wins Residential Systems Best of Show Award at CEDIA Expo 2026
The second item in the KMB Comm-icles look back for Sept 2026 from D-Tools recounts the company’s 2026 Best of Show Award.
D-Tools, a popular provider of dealer software for the technology integration market, was recognized with a Best of Show award by Residential Systems magazine.
At CEDIA Expo 2026, the company demonstrated why it was recognized by Residential Systems by showing its latest D-Tools Cloud capabilities, including AI-assisted workflows, inventory and asset management, sales reporting, project documentation, accounting integration, and more. These options are designed to help users reduce the amount of time invested between sales meetings, warehousing and inventory, and the job site.
HTSA Names Shaun Schuetz Managing Director, Expands Leadership Team for Next Chapter
Closing the month of September out, the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), has announced that Shawn Schuetz will take on the role of managing director.
Additionally, the industry buying group has also appointed Ellie Doherty to the position of director of member and vendor relations, and Jordan Fuchs, director of operations, will take on an expanded role with the organization.
To engage with more KMB Communications content, including blogs and podcasts, click the respective links.
by Bob Archer | Sep 30, 2026 | Blog, KMB Communications, Leon Speakers, SONOS, Wall-Smart
The evolution has been slow and steady, despite the resistance of some stuck in the past, but nevertheless, the tides are changing.
That change is the approach the technology integration market has taken to market to consumers, and the recently completed CEDIA Expo 2026 show provided the perfect platform to underscore that shift from gear and tech to experiences.
For years enthusiasts and their nomenclature dominated home technology discussions. Sure, some thought those discussions were fun, but many people were lost in the talk of resolution, pixels, Dolby Digital, throughput, standards, and protocols.
CEDIA Expo 2026 Empowers Winds of Change
It may seem like a distant memory, but let’s give credit where credit is due, Emerald (now Forge), shortly after acquiring the Expo, made efforts to leverage its connections in the design industry (Emerald/Forge runs the KBIS show) to bolster the growth of the technology integration market.
Consequently, many factors—most notably the pandemic—set Emerald’s efforts back. However, right around the same time, another force was helping to propel the technology market into the visibility of the building and design communities: lighting.
Fast forward to 2026 and that movement that had begun in the late 2010s has picked back up after that momentum had been interrupted.
That momentum could be seen throughout CEDIA Expo 2026, with a growing number of lighting manufacturers exhibiting on the floor, as well as the rapid updates to the many home control solutions that were on the floor.
Further supporting the concept of smart home experiences, rather than smart home technologies, there were a wealth of presentations and educational sessions available at the event.
For example, KMB Communications’ Katye McGregor Bennett led a panel discussion called, “Sound of Wellness.” This presentation not only featured Bennett as the panel moderator, but the session also included Sharon Sherman, founder and principal designer, Thyme and Place Design, Caitlin Stewart, director of residential sales, Leon Speakers, and Frank DeFillipis, builder, lead channel, Sonos.
The all-star panel discussed how sound influences mood, focus, comfort, peoples’ overall health, and the importance of the design and integration communities working collaboratively to address the topic.
Don’t Forget about Design
One last observation about CEDIA Expo 2026, the creation of consumer experiences was the big takeaway from the show. Supporting these experiences are the new product industrial designs that were literally in every manufacturer booth during the event.
Some of those designs may have been retro, think of manufacturers like Yamaha, Advance Paris, and Leon speakers. Other products, like solutions from WALL-SMART as an example, offer integrators the ability to integrate traditional products like wireless access points and surveillance cameras into residences without those products looking out of place.
Of course, there were other buzz-worthy topics, including industry politics and AI that were also important takeaways for some people.
Politics, AI, and related topics like the economy, which at this point are negative in tone, aren’t worth the investment in energy right now. At this moment, what is worth our time and energy is the effort to move forward. Thankfully, given the evidence from the CEDIA Expo 2026 show in Denver, the industry is moving forward despite the numerous challenges it faces right now.
To learn more about KMB Communications’ clients, please click this link.
by Bob Archer | Sep 30, 2026 | Home Technology Association, News
For Immediate Release
HTSA Names Shaun Schuetz Managing Director, Expands Leadership Team for Next Chapter
Ellie Doherty joins as Director of Member and Vendor Relations as HTSA strengthens leadership capacity, member and vendor engagement, and day-to-day operations
October 1, 2026 — Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) today announced an expanded leadership structure for the organization, naming Shaun Schuetz Managing Director while also appointing Ellie Doherty to a new leadership role and promoting Jordan Fuchs.
The appointments represent the next step in the leadership transition HTSA announced earlier this year and reflect a broader investment in the people, structure, and organizational capacity needed to support the group’s members, vendor partners, programs, and continued growth.
Schuetz assumed the role of Managing Director on October 1 and will become Executive Director on January 1, 2027. He brings 14 years of senior sales leadership with leading audio manufacturers, including roles as Chief Sales Officer, Vice President of Sales for the Americas, and Vice President of ESS Channels for the Americas, along with 13 years of leadership in the integration field.
Schuetz joins a strengthened HTSA leadership team that also includes an expanded role and a promotion.
“HTSA’s strength is its members and the vendor partners who invest in them. My priority is to listen first, build on the relationships that make this community successful, and make sure HTSA continues to deliver clear value on both sides of that partnership. Together, we can build on the strength of those partnerships to push beyond where we are today and be a force for what’s next,” said Schuetz.
Ellie Doherty has accepted the new role of Director of Member and Vendor Relations, with an expanded focus on HTSA’s relationships and success across its member and vendor communities. Ellie brings more than 10 years of experience in the custom integration and lighting industries, spanning manufacturer sales, integration, lighting design, specification, and business development. An American Lighting Association Lighting Specialist who has completed HTSA’s Lighting Levels I, II, and III courses, she brings a strong understanding of both sides of the member-vendor relationship and the broader project community HTSA serves.
Jordan Fuchs, Director of Operations, will take on an expanded role within HTSA, reflecting the increasingly important part he plays in the organization’s day-to-day operations and continued development. His broader responsibilities recognize both the value of his contributions today and the Board’s confidence in his ability to take on greater responsibility and play an even more integral role in HTSA’s leadership as the organization moves forward.
The announcement follows HTSA’s previously disclosed leadership transition involving longtime leader Jon Robbins. Robbins is not retiring and continues to work full-time on behalf of HTSA through December 31. If timing aligns, HTSA has previously stated its intent for Robbins to help onboard and transition the new Managing Director, providing continuity and a deep understanding of HTSA’s culture and community.
Alex Lelchuk, President of the HTSA Board of Directors, said: “This is about more than filling a position. The Board set out to build the leadership team HTSA needs for its next chapter while preserving the culture, relationships, and momentum that make this organization successful. Shaun, Ellie, and Jordan give HTSA that team, and the capacity to serve our members and vendor partners at a higher level.”
The expanded leadership structure also gives HTSA additional capacity to support ongoing initiatives including its collaboration with AVIXA and ProSource on Reside, the co-located initiative at InfoComm that builds on the legacy of Lightapalooza.
About Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA)
Home Technology Specialists of America, Inc. (HTSA) is an international trade consortium of the finest residential technology retail and custom integration specialists across the U.S. and Canada. HTSA members design, specify, install, and service the finest premium, high-performance technology solutions for the residential and commercial channels. Today’s sophisticated networked systems demand a highly trained, professional installation specialist.
Whether it’s smart home automation, dedicated media rooms & theaters, lighting fixtures & systems, or high-res whole-house AV networks – HTSA members will professionally interface products and integrate sub-systems with compelling designs for the home, at the office, or on the go. HTSA is proudly member-owned and offers industry-best programs with the leading technology brands. With a renowned team of brilliant educators on staff who create unparalleled proprietary educational programs, HTSA is instrumental in driving the success of all consortium members. To learn more about HTSA, see: www.htsa.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
