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:
- Kordz Showcases New R.4 48Gbps Rack and Marine Passive HDMI Cable at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Apex Technologies Showcases Major Hub Advancements and Expanding Ecosystem at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Apex Technologies Debuts Industry-First Live, Interactive User Interface Demo for Award-Winning Apex Cinema Hub, Powered by Control Envy, at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Apex Technologies Unveils Major Power and Home Cinema Innovations at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Apex Technologies Debuts Complete GUDE Systems Power Portfolio at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Blustream to Debut 14 New and Updated Products at CEDIA Expo 2026
- WALL-SMART Expands Flush-Mount Solutions Across Every Major Smart Home Category at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Quantum Media Systems Demos New XDR5-8K Video Wall System at CEDIA Expo 2026
- D-Tools to Unveil Its Largest Set of New Cloud Capabilities at CEDIA Expo 2026
- D-Tools and Portal.io Merge, Bringing Together the Integration Industry’s Leading Business Platforms
- Somfy Expands Smart Shading Possibilities with Innovative PoE and WireFree Solutions at CEDIA Expo 2026
- Leon Invites CEDIA Expo 2026 Attendees to Awaken the Senses with All-New Products, Refreshed Partnerships, and a Refreshed Material Library
- Somfy and Control4 Deliver a Native Zigbee 3.0 Integration Experience—See It First at CEDIA Expo 2026
- CEDIA Expo: Sonos Expands Whole-Home Audio Ecosystem Led by Amp Multi
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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