by Bob Archer | Sep 11, 2026 | Blog, KMB Communications, SONOS
CEDIA Expo 2026 is in the books and now with everybody back home from the event, it is time for the KMB Comm Tech Week in Review to look at the news that helped to fuel the annual trade event.
This week’s look at technology news will focus on the Expo and stories from leading publications such as CE Pro, Residential Systems, Sound & Video Contractor, SCN, AV Nirvana, and eCoustics.
These news items include product news, trend pieces, and opinion columns. Here is the KMB Comm Technology Week in Review for Sept. 7-11:
CEDIA Expo 2026 Dominates KMB Comm Weekly Review
Owned by Forge (formerly Emerald), the newly renamed company that also owns the Expo, CE Pro naturally covered the event quite extensively. One of the publication’s best initiatives is its Home of the Year program.
Homes of the Year from CE Pro recognizes the industry’s top home installations that covers a range of categories like home theater, MDUs, and retrofit. The publication has a rundown of the winners here.
Residential Systems covered the event extensively and this item from correspondent John Sciacca looked at 10 points of interest for show attendees. Sciacca, a former top integrator balances his enthusiasm for technology and his business sense as an integrator to cover everything from Kaleidescape news and AI to demo material, and even the pickleball tournament that he’s organized for several years.
Tackling market trends from a different perspective, Mark Pescatore from Systems Contractor News (SCN), examines the light commercial business opportunities Expo attendees could discover on the show floor.
In the story SCN notes some of the work is project-based and that residential design is starting to influence commercial projects. Moreover, categories such as audio and video walls offer some of the best opportunities for residential integrators to crossover into the light commercial market.
Moving onto some KMB Comm Tech Week in Review product news, AV Nirvana shot a video with the enthusiast AV manufacturer Magnetar on the introduction of its new flagship Ultima Reference Transport.
Taking a rarely used approach of eliminating the issue of dirty power by using batteries, the transport is a two-piece solution that is engineered to deliver the highest levels of performance.
Covering the big news from Sonos that was announced during CEDIA Expo 2026, Sound & Video Contractor is reporting on the company’s latest soundbar and headphones.
The story states the new Beam Ultra Soundbar is a 7.1.2 soundbar that delivers Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the new Ace Ultra headphones feature new drivers. Sound & Video Contractor points out the new soundbar produces more intelligible dialog via multiple AI Speech Enhancement options, and connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI with eARC.
Sound & Video Contractor adds the headphones utilize a new Sonos-designed 40mm driver, adaptive active noise cancelling that is powered by 10 microphones, and the story says the headphones deliver up to 35 hours of battery life.
Wrapping up the KMB Comm Tech Week in Review for the week of Sept. 7-11, is a non-CEDIA Expo 2026 item from eCoustics.
Picking up data from the RIAA Mid-Year Recorded Music Revenue Report, the website recalled recent statistics from Luminate that found that through the first six months of 2026 Americans purchased more than 16 million CDs. eCoustics says those numbers represent a growth rate of 16%, and even removing the numbers produced by the K-pop category, sales still increased by nearly 7%.
Comparing Luminate’s information to the RIAA’s, eCoustics notes the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) eCoustics employs a different method to attribute CD sales that includes just how much money record labels make from the sales of physical media. eCoustics states that RIAA figures find CD volume increased about 46% to 17.5 million units. The website also emphasizes that CD revenues grew by approximately 59% to reach the figure of just over $171 million.
For those interested, the RIAA’s figures for the sales of vinyl also increased by about 21% with 26.5 units sold to produce revenues of $543.8 million. This figure represents an increase of nearly 18%.
eCoustics later in the story asserts that, “consumers therefore do not appear to be choosing between streaming and ownership the way the industry once assumed they would. Streaming handles discovery and ubiquitous access extraordinarily well, while physical products can satisfy a different desire for collectability, permanence, and a tangible connection to favorite artists.”
To catch up on the latest KMB Comm client news, check out this link.
by Bob Archer | Sep 10, 2026 | Apex Technologies, Blog, Blustream, D-Tools, KMB Communications, Kordz, Leon Speakers, Quantum Media, RoseWater Energy, Somfy, SONOS, Torus Power, Wall-Smart
By Katye McGregor Bennett, Founder, CEO and Brand Strategist, KMB Communications
CEDIA Expo 2026 has officially left Denver, and after several days of walking, talking, moderating, interviewing, demo-watching, booth-hopping, and reconnecting with people we don’t see nearly often enough, one thing feels pretty clear:
The footprint may have felt more concentrated than the CEDIA Expo‘s longtime attendees remember, but CEDIA Expo 2026 certainly didn’t feel small.
Quite the opposite.
More than 300 brands filled the exhibit hall alongside the CEDIA Education Conference, manufacturer training, Smart Stage programming, Sound Rooms, High-Performance Audio Rooms, Destination Outdoors, awards, and plenty of opportunities to connect.
More important than square footage, though, was what was happening inside it.
AI was moving from “interesting idea” to useful business tool. Power management was increasingly being discussed as infrastructure. Networks and connectivity remained fundamental. Home cinema continued to push performance and scale. Lighting and shading became more deeply integrated into the connected-home experience. And technology companies continued getting better at thinking about how their products fit within architecture, interiors and the way people actually live.
That is why CEDIA Expo still matters.
Longtime Residential Systems contributor John Sciacca, who has attended nearly every CEDIA Expo since 1998, offered a similar perspective after this year’s show: Expo has experienced its share of changes over nearly three decades, but the sense of community remains its constant.
Plenty to Talk About on the CEDIA Expo Show Floor
For KMB, the show was also a pretty good snapshot of the work we get to do every day.
D-Tools demonstrated how AI can remove friction from actual integration-business workflows through tools including Quote Assist and Ask D-Tools.
Blustream arrived with 14 new and updated products, including the U.S. preview of its next-generation PROSync 4K/120 AV-over-IP platform and the introduction of BLUNet.
Kordz reinforced the importance of connectivity with its R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable—and once again demonstrated that sometimes suspending 44 pounds from an HDMI cable while it carries a live signal explains engineering better than another spec sheet ever could.
Power continued gaining ground as a larger industry conversation. Apex Technologies expanded the capabilities of its Apex Power Hub, Powered by Control Envy, and showcased the GUDE Systems intelligent power portfolio, while Torus Power continued educating integrators about power isolation, protection, and performance.
Meanwhile, Quantum Media Systems made sure nobody forgot that CEDIA Expo can still deliver a proper showstopper. Its fifth-generation XDR5-8K Video Wall System combined native 8K content, multi-source capabilities and immersive TPI Aerospace Movement audio in one of the show’s standout demonstrations.
Design integration had an equally strong presence.
Leon Speakers brought its “Awaken the Senses” concept to life through products, materials, finishes and a refreshed Material Library designed to make technology feel resolved within the room rather than added afterward. WALL-SMART continued finding new ways to make smart-home technology disappear cleanly into architecture. Somfy demonstrated how intelligent shading can support daylight, privacy and comfort while simplifying integration. And Sonos, led by Amp Multi, showed just how broad its professional whole-home audio ecosystem has become.
The Conversations Mattered, Too
I also spent a good part of CEDIA Expo in classrooms and on stages talking about where many of these ideas intersect.
“The Sound of Wellness” brought together KBB’s 2025 Person of the Year Sharon Sherman, Leon’s Caitlin Stewart and Sonos’ Frank DeFillipis to discuss how sound, design and technology contribute to comfort and well-being.
“Selling the Outcome” reunited Sharon with NKBA’s 2025 Educator of the Year Elizabeth Lord-Levitt for a conversation about aligning design, construction and technology around what the homeowner ultimately experiences.
Power got additional attention in sessions with RoseWater Energy founder and CEO Joe Piccirilli, whose decades of education on power management long predate the category’s current momentum, along with Jim Sanfemio of Wicked Smart Homes and Nels Tate of SAV Inc.
Those discussions reinforced something we heard repeatedly throughout the week: increasingly, the story is not about an individual product. It is about the experience that product helps create.
A Very Good Awards Week
KMB clients also earned an impressive collection of recognition.
Residential Systems Best of Show honors went to technologies from Apex Technologies, Blustream, D-Tools, Leon Speakers, and Somfy, along with Sony’s Leon Studio Frame for BRAVIA 9 II and 7 II. CE Pro BEST recognized Somfy’s Top-down Bottom-up 45 WireFree Zigbee Motor and GUDE Systems’ Expert Power Control 8290-1. Nerve’s Pinnacle Residence earned three CE Pro Home of the Year honors, while Technology Designer recognized solutions from WALL-SMART, Quantum Media Systems, and Sonos.
Leon also won CEDIA Expo’s inaugural Best Medium Booth Award, a particularly fitting honor for an exhibit built around materials, experience, and design.
The now-published 2026 CEDIA Smart Home Awards Americas added another important layer. KMB clients Nerve Inc. and Elliston Systems & Design were named project finalists, while WALL-SMART’s Universal Access Point Mount was inducted into the CEDIA Product Hall of Fame, joining a select group of products CEDIA recognizes for lasting influence and value to the smart home industry. The broader awards celebrated achievement across projects, products, businesses, and people throughout the CEDIA community.
Why CEDIA Expo Still Matters
The best technology is not necessarily the technology with the longest spec sheet. It is technology that performs as intended, fits the project, supports design intent, and ultimately makes life better for the people using it.
CEDIA Expo remains one of the few places where the people responsible for making all of that happen can learn, debate, experiment, reconnect, and see what is coming next.
And there is every reason to expect that conversation to continue. Forge CEO Paul Miller addressed questions about the event’s future directly during CEDIA Expo, confirming the show will return and that Forge intends to continue investing in it.
We’re glad to hear it.
Next year, the CEDIA Education Conference begins September 7, 2027, followed by the CEDIA Expo exhibit hall September 8–10 in Las Vegas.
We’ll see you there!
For a deeper dive, read KMB‘s Home Tech Talk Substack Channel article here
by Bob Archer | Sep 10, 2026 | Apex Technologies, Blustream, D-Tools, Kordz, Leon Speakers, Meridian Audio, News, Quantum Media, Somfy, SONOS, Trade Show news, Wall-Smart
Wrapping up several years in Denver, the CEDIA Expo 2026 show is now complete and before it moves to Las Vegas for 2027, it’s time to look back at the 2026 show and the latest news from KMB Comm clients.
Summarizing the news, the connectivity company Kordz introduced a new line of 48Gbps HDMI cables for rack and marine applications, Apex featured several items that ranged from control and power to immersive audio speaker systems that complement video walls.
Helping dealers to better understand the digital audio platform Dante, Blustream emphasized its Dante solutions, as well as its latest AV-over-IP products. Stressing the need to bridge the worlds of home electronics and design, WALL-SMART showcased an array of new flush-mount solutions for a variety of installation scenarios.
Quantum Media Systems highlighted its new XDR5-8K Video Wall System in what has become one of the Expo’s must-attend demo systems’ with audio from the Apex Technologies brand TPI Cinema. D-Tools made major news just before the show by announcing its merger with Portal.io. D-Tools also introduced a large selection of cloud-based features.
Somfy rolled out its latest PoE and WireFree product lines during the Expo, and it announced native Zigbee 3.0 integration for the Control4 platform. Leon showing just how designer-friendly its product line is, announced its “Awaken the Senses” campaign with new products and an updated material library.
Rounding out the KMB Comm client news from August was Sonos’ whole-house Amp Multi amplifier solution, the announcement of the new Beam Ultra soundbar, and the new Ace Ultra headphones.
Here are the KMB Comm headlines from August 2026:
KMB Comm August 2026 Review
Kordz Showcases New R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable at CEDIA Expo 2026
In booth #3032 show attendees saw the new Kordz R.4 48 Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable. Kordz points out the R.4 48 Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable succeeds its R.3 18 Gbps HDMI cable. The R.4 cable line supports 48 Gbps data rates to enable the transmission of 8K video, and it offers a full HDMI 2.1 compliant feature set, including eARC, VRR and QMS.
The new cable is available in a choice of lengths spanning 12 inches through 9 feet 10 inches.
Apex Technologies Showcases Major Power Hub Advancements and Expanding Ecosystem at CEDIA Expo 2026
At CEDIA Expo in booth #4415 Apex Technologies US featured its new Apex Power Hub, Powered by Control Envy, as well as its Apex Cinema Hub, and its latest residential products.
Apex Technologies US emphasizes its Secure Shareable Web Proxy made its Expo debut. The company says the Shareable Web Proxy allows for secure, encrypted remote access to supported interface devices directly through its Apex Power Hub.
Other items the company showed at CEDIA Expo 2026 included a demonstration of TPI Aerospace’s Movement Audio Technology for DVLED walls in partnership with Quantum Media Systems. Apex Technologies US also highlighted Meridian Audio’s DSP750 loudspeakers working with the Meridian Audio DSW15 15-inch active subwoofer in the Just Video Walls booth (#3000).
Additionally, show attendees visited ProtoPixel lighting products alongside Sony’s immersive home theater demo in booth #2120.
Apex Technologies Debuts Industry First Live, Interactive User Interface Demo for Award-Winning Apex Cinema Hub, Powered by Control Envy, at CEDIA Expo 2026
In booth #4415 during the CEDIA Expo, Apex demonstrated a new way for dealers to communicate with clients on the benefits of intuitive home control. The latest updates to Apex Technologies US’ Apex Cinema Hub Powered by Control Envy, allows integrators to easily demonstrate how to navigate the platform’s user interface.
Apex emphasizes that because the demo experience is browser-based and sharable, integrators and homeowners don’t need to be in the same location to walk through the interface features.
Apex Technologies Unveils Major Power and Home Cinema Innovations at CEDIA Expo 2026
Next up in the KMB Comm CEDIA Expo 2026 recap is that Apex Technologies US focused on TPI Aerospace’s Movement Audio Technology for DVLED Walls.
Apex Technologies US also highlighted Meridian’s latest loudspeakers and its Image Elevation technology, which can also pair with video wall display systems.
Apex Technologies Debuts Complete GUDE Systems Power Portfolio at CEDIA Expo 2026
Apex Technologies offers a diverse product line that also includes power. At CEDIA Expo 2026 in booth #4415 Apex presented the GUDE portfolio of power solutions.
GUDE’s product line features a range of UL-approved IP-addressable PDUs, environmental monitoring, outlet-level control, and series-mode permanent surge protection solutions.
Blustream to Debut 14 New and Updated Products at CEDIA Expo 2026
Blustream exhibited its latest products and solutions in booth #3211, showing its wide selection of connectivity and infrastructure solutions.
Some of the products Blustream showed at the Expo include its benchmark IP300 AV-over-IP platform, as well as its new ACM1000 Advanced Control Module, and it previewed its PROSync 4K/120 AV-over-IP platform.
Other activities that took place in the booth include a demonstration by ELAN and its platform controlling a Blustream AV-over-IP system, and demonstrations from AVA and Sonance.
WALL-SMART Expands Flush-Mount Solutions Across Every Major Smart Home Category at CEDIA Expo 2026
Once again returning to the show, WALL-SMART exhibited in booth #1911, and it featured the latest additions to its product line during the event.
WALL-SMART points out that at the Expo it debuted architecturally integrated mounting solutions that address control interface, security, networking and HVAC control integration.
One of the most important of WALL-SMART’s product introductions was its new Universal Flush Mount for Dome Cameras. Homeowner and commercial-property owner interest in security never wavers and this paintable product helps integrators to seamless install dome cameras into a variety of interior environments.
Quantum Media Systems Demos New XDR5-8K Video Wall System at CEDIA Expo 2026
The past several years at the Expo, Quantum Media Systems’ demos have been the talk of the show. At CEDIA Expo 2026, Quantum continued that streak with the presentation of its XDR5-8K system.
Quantum states the video display system utilizes a 0.9mm pixel pitch to deliver images as high as 8K. The demonstration in room #MR201 also featured the TPI Aerospace Movement immersive audio system, and Kaleidescape’s new 8K media player.
D-Tools to Unveil Its Largest Set of New Cloud Capabilities at CEDIA Expo 2026
Up next in the KMB Comm Expo preview is D-Tools. During the show, the popular dealer software company exhibited in booth #3723, and it highlighted new product technologies and features.
The focus in the booth included looks at AI Assisted Workflows using D-Tools’ Quote Assist and Ask D-Tools user options. D-Tools also highlighted its Inventory & Asset Management in the D-Tools Cloud Mobile App tools, and D-Tools’ MCP Server that connects D-Tools to Claude and ChatGPT.
In addition, to seeing these new dealer features, D-Tools provided show attendees previews of its Two-Way QuickBooks Online Sync and AI Proposal Templates.
Lastly, D-Tools isn’t all about business. The company held its D-Tools Happy Hour in conjunction with Somfy. During the Happy Hour event D-Tools held its Plinko Challenge where booth visitors won a share of more than $13,000 in prizes from its i3 Partners, AiSPIRE, eero, Faradite, K-array, Modern Smart Fans, NiCE, Panamax, Severtson Screens, URC, Vanco, and WALL-SMART.
Moreover, in what has become CEDIA Expo’s signature event, Tim Bigoness of D-Tools led the CE Pro All-Star Band through the performance of two sets of live music at the Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
D-Tools and Portal.io Merge, Bringing Together the Integration Industry’s Leading Business Platforms
Perhaps the biggest news to come from August and the Expo was the announcement that D-Tools merged with Portal.io. The newly formed company states that they will together give integrators a portfolio of integrator-specific products that can scale with their businesses.
Together, the new company offers a selection of software that includes Portal.io, D-Tools Cloud, and D-Tools System Integrator (SI).
Somfy Expands Smart Shading Possibilities with Innovative PoE and WireFree Solutions at CEDIA Expo 2026
During the show Somfy featured wired and WireFree applications that include Power over Ethernet (PoE) motors. Highlights of the Expo and the latest Somfy products were the Glydea ULTRA 50 WireFree Zigbee Drapery Motor and the Top-down Bottom-up 45 WireFree Zigbee motor.
Somfy emphasizes the Top-down Bottom-up 45 WireFree Zigbee motor utilizes Zigbee 3.0 to enable the motor to independently position the upper and lower parts of a shade.
Leon Invites CEDIA Expo 2026 Attendees to Awaken the Senses with All-New Products, Partnerships, and a Refreshed Material Library
CEDIA Expo 2026 had from many companies a theme of consumer experience. What this means is the industry is striving to make products and solutions that are stylish, easy-to-use, and complementary to homeowners’ daily lives.
Arguably no company better represents the theme of experience than Leon. In its booth, the company introduced its “Awaken the Senses” initiative. As part of this initiative, the company displayed a curated collection of textures, color palettes, and FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) sustainable materials.
Reinforcing its audio performance, Leon demonstrated its latest soundbars, subwoofers, and collaboration with the Italian amplification company Powersoft.
RoseWater Energy Founder and CEO Joe Piccirilli to Lead Comprehensive Power Management Sales Curriculum at CEDIA Expo 2026
One of the most interesting educational opportunities at CEDIA Expo 2026 was a series of educational classes presented by RoseWater Energy‘s Joe Piccirilli. Piccirilli, an industry icon with decades of successful business experience in the technology integration industry taught three classes on the topic of power.
A couple of key takeaways from the classes were the residential market is evolving and the need for resilient power is greater than ever, and as profit margins continue to erode in several categories, the need for profitable product solutions is imperative for integrators and their businesses.
Somfy and Control4 Deliver a Native Zigbee 3.0 Integration Experience—See It First at CEDIA Expo 2026
The next KMB Comm news item comes from Somfy. At the show the company introduced a Zigbee 3.0 shade motor line of products that provide native integration with Control4.
Somfy expects the line of products to be available sometime during the first quarter of 2027, and the popular provider of window covering motors points out the new motors eliminate the need for external hubs, bridges and other interface devices.
CEDIA Expo: Sonos Expands Whole-Home Audio Ecosystem Led by Amp Multi
The final KMB Comm client item is news from Sonos.
Sonos always plays host to one of the Expo’s busiest booths and 2026 was no different. Attracting attendees to this year’s booth was the new Amp Multi Whole-House Audio amplifier, as well as the Beam Ultra 7.1.2 immersive audio soundbar, and Ace Ultra headphones.
Additionally, Sonos announced the ability to wirelessly pair its multi-functional portable speakers with the Beam Ultra to form an immersive audio system with the portable speakers serving as surround speakers.
To read KMB Communications blogs click this link, and to hear KMB Comm’s AV Talk Podcast, click here.
by Bob Archer | Sep 1, 2026 | News, SONOS
CEDIA Expo: Sonos Expands Whole-Home Audio Ecosystem Led by Amp Multi
Now-shipping Amp Multi leads new product introductions alongside Beam Ultra, multi-functional portable speakers and Ace Ultra, giving integrators more ways to create scalable, seamless entertainment experiences throughout the home.
Sonos is expanding its whole-home audio ecosystem with Amp Multi, its new professional-grade multizone streaming amplifier, leading a series of product introductions designed to give custom integrators greater flexibility to create premium entertainment experiences throughout the home.
Now shipping, Amp Multi (image here) brings scalable, high-performance distributed audio to residential and light commercial projects while simplifying system design, installation and commissioning.
Joining Amp Multi at CEDIA Expo are Beam Ultra, a new 7.1.2 immersive soundbar; new multi-functional portable Sonos speakers that transition from wireless home theater surrounds to standalone listening; and Ace Ultra, premium over-ear headphones that extend the Sonos experience from shared entertainment spaces to personal listening.
Amp Multi Expands the Sonos Professional Ecosystem
Purpose-built for professional installation, Amp Multi gives integrators a scalable platform for distributing premium audio across multiple spaces in residential and light commercial environments.
Amp Multi delivers eight amplified 125-watt outputs configurable across up to four independent zones, allowing integrators to design systems around how clients use each space while supporting future expansion. Each output can power up to three Sonos Architectural speakers, making it possible to deliver immersive audio throughout large residences and commercial environments without adding unnecessary complexity.
Amp Multi combines the Sonos streaming platform with tools designed specifically to streamline professional installation and commissioning. An audible identification feature makes it easier to locate hardware in crowded equipment racks, while new ProTune sound optimization tools provide detailed DSP controls for tuning based on speaker placement and room acoustics.
Its compact, fanless 1.5U design minimizes rack space, heat and noise while supporting clean cable management and efficient airflow. Together, these capabilities give integrators a high-performance foundation for building and expanding distributed audio systems while keeping installation and ongoing system management simple.
More New Ways to Experience Sonos Throughout the Home
Alongside Amp Multi, Sonos is introducing new products that extend the ecosystem across home theater, portable and personal listening:
- Beam Ultra is a new 7.1.2 immersive soundbar delivering powerful Dolby Atmos performance for the home’s primary entertainment space. Sonos will demonstrate Beam Ultra alongside its new multi-functional portable speakers in a dedicated home theater section of its CEDIA Expo exhibit.
- New multi-functional portable Sonos speakers can pair with Beam Ultra to serve as wireless surrounds for home theater, then transition back to standalone speakers for listening throughout the home or outdoors.
- Ace Ultra, Sonos’ new premium over-ear headphones, extends the experience from shared spaces to personal listening. Users can transition audio between compatible Sonos speakers and Ace Ultra and back again without pausing playback or reconnecting devices, allowing entertainment to move naturally with them throughout the home.
Together, the introductions expand the ways integrators can design and personalize Sonos systems around how clients live—from distributed music throughout the home and immersive entertainment in dedicated spaces to outdoor audio and private listening.
With Amp Multi providing a new foundation for professionally installed distributed audio, the expanded portfolio gives integrators more flexibility to create Sonos experiences that can grow and evolve with the home.
To learn more about Sonos and its professional solutions, access the media kit and downloadable assets HERE. For CEDIA Expo information and booth visits, contact katye@kmbcomm.com.
by Bob Archer | Sep 1, 2026 | News, Somfy
CEDIA EXPO 2026, Booth #3512
Download image here
Somfy and Control4 Deliver a Native Zigbee 3.0 Integration Experience—See It First at CEDIA Expo 2026
New integration brings Somfy motorized shading directly into the Control4 ecosystem, simplifying commissioning and delivering certified two-way shade control and feedback.
DAYTON, NJ (September 1, 2026) – Somfy, a global leader in smart shading motorization, will introduce native Control4 integration for its Zigbee 3.0 shade motor portfolio at CEDIA Expo 2026, Booth #3512, giving custom integrators a simpler way to incorporate intelligent shading into a Control4 smart home ecosystem.
Expected to be available in Q1 2027, the integration brings compatible Somfy Zigbee 3.0 motors natively into the Control4 ecosystem, eliminating the need for external shading hubs, bridges or integration interfaces. The result is a more streamlined approach to specifying, commissioning and managing automated shades as part of a complete smart home system.
With the new native integration, compatible Somfy Zigbee 3.0 motors can be discovered and populated directly within the Control4 Composer environment. Integrators can now incorporate shades into scenes and automation routines alongside lighting, climate, entertainment and other connected systems.
“Shading should feel like a natural extension of the smart home, both for the integrator programming the system and the homeowner using it every day,” says David Parrett, Somfy North American Vice President of Partnerships & Specifications. “Native Control4 integration brings those experiences together. We’re giving integrators a simpler path from commissioning to control while providing the dependable connectivity and precise shade feedback needed to create truly coordinated whole-home experiences.”
A Simpler Path to Smart Shading
For Control4 integrators, native connectivity means fewer components to specify, install and configure. The new direct integration creates a familiar Control4 Composer Pro environment, helping simplify system architecture and accelerate commissioning.
“Control4 is excited to showcase its first third-party Zigbee 3.0 integrations at CEDIA Expo, and Somfy was a natural choice as a launch partner,” says ADI Sr. Director Product Management Eric Fritz. As shading becomes an increasingly important part of the connected home experience, this integration simplifies system design and deployment while delivering a more intuitive, reliable, and seamless automation experience. Together, Control4 and Somfy are making it easier than ever for integrators to incorporate intelligent shading into smart home projects, helping create more connected, comfortable, and personalized living environments.”
The integration also provides certified two-way feedback, allowing the Control4 system to know the status and position of all connected shades. That visibility gives integrators greater confidence when programming sophisticated scenes and makes automated shading an intuitive part of everyday smart home experiences.
Somfy-powered shades can work alongside other connected technologies to support the way homeowners use their spaces throughout the day. Shades can open with a morning scene to introduce natural light, adjust with lighting to manage glare and comfort, close for privacy in the evening, or coordinate with AV and lighting to create an immersive entertainment environment.
Experience Somfy + Control4 at CEDIA Expo 2026
CEDIA Expo attendees can experience the new native Control4 integration firsthand at Somfy Booth #3512, where Somfy will demonstrate how its Zigbee 3.0 motors work within the Control4 environment and show how native connectivity can simplify commissioning, reduce integration hardware, and deliver dependable two-way feedback.
Attendees can also explore Somfy’s broader portfolio of connected shading technologies and discover how motorized shades can become an integral part of sophisticated smart home experiences. Featured demonstrations include the Sonesse® 30 PoE, Glydea® ULTRA 50 WireFree Zigbee Drapery Motor, presented with draperies and decorative hardware from Wolf Drapery, and the Top-down Bottom-up 45 WireFree Zigbee motor.
To learn more about the benefits of Somfy motors for high-performance smart home applications, please go to somfypro.com.
About Somfy Systems, Inc.
For over 50 years, Somfy has been pioneering innovative motorization and automated solutions for window coverings and exterior shading products. With comfort, ease of use, security, and sustainability in mind, our seamless and connected solutions are designed to help people make the move to living spaces impactful for humans and with a reduced impact on nature. For more information, visit somfypro.com.
Media Contact:
Katye McGregor Bennett KMB Communications. katye@kmbcomm.com
