1 SOUND has launched two innovative loudspeakers aimed at delivering high-quality sound with enhanced control and versatility in both live sound and installed audio applications. The CM38, a high-powered cardioid floor monitor, and the Level L38, a full-range, flush-mounted loudspeaker, each incorporate advanced features designed to meet the unique challenges of their respective environments.

CM38: Compact, Cardioid Floor Monitor for Live Sound

The CM38 is a high-performance floor monitor engineered to address common issues encountered in live sound settings. Standing at just 8 inches tall, the CM38’s compact design keeps it low-profile while delivering high-impact sound with a maximum SPL of 130 dB and a frequency response extending down to 60 Hz.

This bi-amped monitor features three 8-inch drivers, including a coaxial driver with 1 SOUND’s proprietary progressive horn design, intended to maintain high-frequency clarity at greater distances. The CM38 also incorporates passive cardioid behavior, reducing mid-low frequencies by approximately 8 dB on the sides and rear to minimize stage noise and enhance sound focus. This directional control provides a cleaner onstage environment, directing sound precisely where it’s needed and reducing spillover.

Sound engineers in various fields, from orchestral concerts to rock performances, have responded positively to the CM38’s capabilities. Mike Richards, Front of House Engineer at The Vine Theater, remarked, “This wedge is a game-changer in our industry! With the CM38, there’s no volume bleed off the stage. The control and isolation are amazing – you hear it only where it’s aimed.”

Level L38: Flush-Mounted Full-Range Solution for Discreet Installation

Unveiled in November 2024, the Level L38 introduces a low-profile, flush-mounted loudspeaker that merges powerful sound with architectural elegance. As the first entry in the new Level Series, the L38 is designed for wall or ceiling installation, standing only 8 inches off the mounting surface. It offers flexible application options for spaces such as high-energy bars, restaurants, and retail environments, where both aesthetics and high sound quality are priorities.

The L38 features three 8-inch drivers, one of which is coaxial and equipped with the same proprietary progressive horn design as the CM38. It achieves a maximum SPL of 130 dB and reaches frequencies as low as 65 Hz, making it suitable as a stand-alone, full-range speaker. The Level L38’s cardioid behavior minimizes off-axis sound by 8 dB, particularly in the mid-low frequencies, which reduces unwanted reflections and enhances listening clarity across the space.

Two installation models, the L38 Wall and L38 Ceiling, allow the speaker to be mounted between 8 and 15 feet high, with a 90-degree dispersion pattern beneath the speaker. This design enables clear, direct sound even for listeners directly below, while the cardioid pattern helps prevent sound reflection onto ceilings, providing an optimal listening experience.

Durability and Aesthetic Options Across Models

Both the CM38 and Level L38 are built with robust, high-quality materials designed to withstand various environments. Each model is available in a range of colors and finishes to match diverse installation needs, offering short turnaround times for customizations. Furthermore, both models are IP55-rated and resistant to saltwater, adding resilience for outdoor or challenging installation conditions.

The dual releases of the CM38 and Level L38 demonstrate 1 SOUND’s commitment to developing high-performance audio solutions that not only deliver on sound quality but also address practical challenges in both live and installed sound applications. As the company continues to innovate, these models offer versatile options for sound professionals looking to optimize both performance and aesthetics in their projects.

For more information on the CM38 and Level L38, visit www.1-sound.com

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Samsung has launched its largest Experience Store in Gurugram, located at DLF CyberHub—a centre known for its diverse mix of entertainment, lifestyle, and commerce. This sprawling 3,000 sq. ft. space is where consumers can immerse themselves in Samsung’s most advanced mobile and connected technology offerings.

Visitors can experience hands-on interaction with Samsung’s flagship smartphones, wearables, audio devices, and the SmartThings ecosystem in thoughtfully curated immersive zones.

“Our new Experience Store at DLF CyberHub marks a significant step in Samsung’s journey to bring innovative, seamlessly integrated technology closer to consumers. This store is more than a retail space, it offers a glimpse into the future of connected living, where our SmartThings ecosystem and mobile experiences converge to improve everyday life. Building on the success of our existing experience stores nationwide, the CyberHub location is set to elevate customer engagement through hands-on demonstrations, personalized consultations, and immersive zones that highlight our latest innovations. We invite consumers to explore and experience the cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future of how we live, work, and connect,” said Sumit Walia, Vice President, D2C Business, Samsung India.

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The KNX Modbus RTU Gateway 886 has just become even more powerful with the launch of the KNX Modbus RTU Gateway 886.1 secure. Now equipped with KNX Security support and a range of new features, this upgraded model offers even greater flexibility and performance.

The configuration options for mapping Modbus registers to KNX data points have been expanded, bringing them in line with the capabilities of the KNX Modbus TCP Gateway 716 secure.

The new KNX data point converter simplifies the process of converting between different data point types (DPTs) and scaling value ranges, ensuring seamless integration with a wide variety of devices.

Powering the device is straightforward: the 886.1 is powered via the KNX bus, so no additional auxiliary voltage is required.

A key enhancement in this release is the ability to test Modbus functions directly from the ETS parameter area. This feature eliminates the need for multiple downloads during communication tests. Now, test queries can be made directly through the gateway, even without a full KNX configuration—just program the gateway’s physical address. This means settings can be tested before completing the ETS configuration, saving time and simplifying the installation process.

Thanks to our growing KNX community, we offer a range of sample configurations to facilitate integration with devices like inverters, heat pumps, energy meters, and more. These configurations can be easily imported into ETS using the free DCA Weinzierl Modbus RTU Gateway 886.1 ConfigTool.

The DCA (Device Configuration Assistant) allows you to save and transfer configurations, and even import settings from the previous model. This feature encourages users to share their configurations with the community, strengthening the knowledge base and helping others streamline their setups.

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The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has announced the release of Matter 1.4, which is now available for device makers and platforms to integrate into their products. This update takes a significant step forward in the Matter ecosystem. Matter 1.4 introduces enhancements that allow device vendors and platforms to improve the multi-ecosystem user experience with Enhanced Multi-Admin, create more reliable and interoperable home networks with the introduction of Matter-certifiable Home Routers and Access Points, that will help users save energy with expanded energy management enhancements, and build new and better experiences with several new device types and core enhancements.

The evolution of the Matter specification in the 1.4 release reflects the support of hundreds of Member companies and the dedication of thousands of engineers and product experts globally. With Matter products now in millions of homes around the world since its launch in 2022, Matter Working Group members continue to bring their real-world experiences, innovations, and challenges into Matter’s ongoing development, to improve and grow the smart home. Matter 1.4 reinforces our commitment to delivering simplicity, interoperability, and new experiences across the IoT landscape.

Enhanced Network Infrastructure with Home Routers and Access Points (HRAP) 

Devices such as home routers and modems, access points, and set-top boxes can now be designed or upgraded to provide more robust support for Matter-based smart homes. Matter-certified HRAP devices provide the foundational infrastructure of smart homes by combining both a Wi-Fi access point and a Thread Border Router, ensuring these ubiquitous devices have the necessary infrastructure for Matter products using either of these technologies. HRAP devices also feature a secure directory for storing and sharing Thread network credentials. This standardized approach makes it easier for users to add new Thread devices, including Thread Border Routers, to their existing Thread networks, rather than creating new ones, realizing the benefits of a unified Thread mesh network and reducing network fragmentation.

Starting from this foundation, the HRAP roadmap will continue to add enhancements to improve smart home infrastructure including support for the improvements in Thread 1.4. (Note, the version numbers between this Matter 1.4 release and Thread’s 1.4 release are coincidental and unrelated.)

Enhanced Multi-Admin 

Multi-Admin is central to Matter’s vision of choice and interoperability, allowing users to connect Matter devices to multiple smart home systems. However, sharing each device individually when managing multiple platforms can become tedious and complex as users expand their smart homes. Enhanced Multi-Admin makes smart home management easier with single user consent, enabling existing and new devices to connect to multiple ecosystems automatically. Matter 1.4 and future releases provide developers with flexible approaches to implement this optional experience based on their applications.

Enhancements to Energy Management 

Matter 1.4 expands its energy management capabilities by adding support for new device types like solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and water heaters. These additions, along with improvements to the energy management and thermostat clusters, pave the way for smarter, more automated energy management within the home.

New Energy Device Types and Capabilities

Solar Power – Existing electrical power and electrical energy support in Matter has been extended to Solar Power device types, including inverters, individual and panel arrays, and hybrid solar/battery systems. 

Batteries – These include battery walls, storage units, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), capable of discharging energy back into the home or grid, creating “virtual power plants.” Enabled by home energy management systems, they support load balancing, with any controller potentially serving as the management system.

Heat Pumps are an increasingly popular appliance for managing temperature in homes, with a growing number of incentive programs for their installation. With Matter’s energy management capabilities, these devices could forecast consumption and adjust usage during peak demand. Heat pumps can shift energy use to off-peak times, such as pre-heating the home, and some feature a “buffer tank” that functions like a battery. 

Water Heaters – Electric water heaters can be set to a preset temperature or percentage, letting users monitor hot water levels. A boost command, which enables rapid heating from multiple energy sources for situations where hot water is needed quickly, allows temporary overrides in the heating schedule, ideal for situations like hosting guests. This gives consumers more control and flexibility. Additionally, the new Water Heater Mode cluster provides users with the ability to easily toggle scheduling on and off, making it simple to adjust heating patterns when normal routines change.

Enhancements to Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE): EVSE support is enhanced by introducing user-defined charging preferences like specifying when they want their car to be charged, allowing users to choose optimal times for convenience and cost, building on the provisional features from earlier versions.

Enhancements to Thermostats: Thermostat clusters add support for scheduling and preset modes like vacation and home/away settings. Presets can be triggered through motion detection, integrated with other devices, and even automation based on calendar events.

Device Energy Management and Mode – With support for Device Energy Management, Matter 1.4 allows energy-consuming devices to adjust start times based on energy usage forecasts and power management needs. This feature is ideal for devices in optimizing their consumption patterns. The new Device Energy Management Mode cluster enables easy toggling between device-specific, local, or grid-wide energy optimization, providing greater flexibility and efficiency for managing power across the home.

Mounted On/Off and Dimmable Load Control

Matter 1.4 introduces two new device types designed specifically for fixed in-wall smart home devices that deliver electrical power to wired devices, such as in-wall switches for controlling lights, fans, and other non-smart appliances. Previously, these were typically modeled as lights, which could limit user interface or automation flexibility.

Enhancements to Occupancy Sensing

Enhancements to the existing sensor cluster now support sensing features like radar, vision, and ambient sensing technologies. The update also introduces customisable sensitivity settings and offers improved tuning for sensor and history reporting through event-based updates, providing a more precise and adaptable smart home experience. These updates serve as a foundation for future work to support new sensing techniques to enable capabilities like person detection and activity classification.

Enhancements to Battery Powered Devices

Matter 1.4 introduces core enhancements that optimise battery life and communication for Intermittently Connected Devices (ICDs) like switches, buttons, and sensors. Key updates include the Long Idle Time (LIT) protocol, which extends battery life, and a new Check-In Protocol to ensure reliable communication for low-power devices that require LIT. Additionally, quieter reporting of predictable attribute changes reduces network traffic, resulting in improved battery performance and network efficiency.

For More Information: https://csa-iot.org

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CEDIA, the Association for Smart Home Professionals, is pleased to announce that Henry Clifford (USA) and Manojkumar Soni (India) will join the Global CEDIA Board of Directors for the 2025-2027 term. The slate was approved by 95% of those voting, with a 56% increase in participation, the largest for a CEDIA Board election.

“Henry and Manojkumar bring unparalleled strengths in both business and technical expertise, which will greatly enhance our board’s ability to represent and serve our members around the world,” said Alex Capecelatro, CEDIA Board Chairperson. “I’d like to thank the members of the Governance Committee, chaired by CEDIA Vice Chairperson Amanda Wildman, for their diligent work in overseeing the election process and identifying such exemplary candidates.”

Henry Clifford began his career in IT during the “.com” boom of the 90s, working as a web developer and information architect. He founded Livewire in 2001 after identifying a need for simple home technology in central Virginia. Under Clifford’s leadership, Livewire acquired five competitors and launched a commercial division, Livewire for Business. Today, Livewire stands as the largest home technology integrator in central Virginia. Clifford also co-founded Parasol, a nationwide 24/7 remote support system “for integrators, by integrators” and the CI industry training platform IntegrateU. Clifford previously served on the CEDIA Board of Directors from 2017-2019.

Manojkumar Soni is the owner and principal consultant at AV4U, a leading technology integration firm in India. His expertise includes tender design, consulting, and auditing based on International ANSI standards. He holds several industry certifications, including CEDIA ESC-D, CTS, THX, HAA, and ISF. These credentials ensure AV4U provides top-tier AV, acoustic, automation, and building management system (BMS) solutions that meet international standards. An avid volunteer, Soni plays a vital role in the CEDIA India core team. He is a CEDIA accredited presenter, trainer, and active CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI). He also dedicates his time to the CEDIA RP23 Working Group, influencing global video standards.

“CEDIA’s Board represents not only our members but also the future of the smart home industry,” added Daryl Friedman, CEDIA Global President and CEO. “Henry and Manojkumar are leaders with a deep commitment to innovation and quality, and their contributions will be instrumental in advancing CEDIA’s ambitious 2025 goals and beyond.”

For more information about CEDIA’s Board of Directors, visit cedia.org/board.

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Hunter Douglas has expanded its PowerView Automation portfolio with the introduction of PowerView Motorized Drapery Hardware. The new drapery motor offers seamless, hands-free drapery control alongside PowerView shades, blinds, and shutters.

System Integrators and homeowners can now manage all window treatments through one unified system using the PowerView app or via smart home platforms such as Control4, Crestron, Savant, Josh.ai, Brilliant, URC, and RTI. Whether operating on a preset schedule or controlled on-demand via voice assistants or the Pebble remote, this advanced hardware has been designed to deliver custom control with both sophistication and ease.

“Drapery has long been a cornerstone of window treatment design. Amid growing demand for smarter, more customized smart home and design solutions, incorporating drapery into our automation ecosystem was a no-brainer,” said Scott Stephenson, Senior Director of Product, Global Motorization at Hunter Douglas. “Our PowerView Motorized Drapery Hardware makes it simple to control drapery — independently or alongside other PowerView window treatments — and expands the opportunity to enhance aesthetics, privacy, energy efficiency, and security within our trusted PowerView platform.”

The PowerView Motorized Drapery Hardware collection is available in four finishes — Matte White, Satin Nickel, Dark Brass, and Matte Black — paired with four distinct finial styles: the sculptural Round Finial, the subtle Flute Finial, the clean-lined Square Finial, and the jewelry-inspired Globe Finial.

Curated by renowned designer Lori Weitzner, the hardware designs pair perfectly with the wide range of fabrics and textures offered through Carole Fabrics Drapery, ranging from clean neutrals and refined patterns to rich textures and vibrant colors.

For More Information: www.hunterdouglas.com.

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zencontrol, a global leader in Advanced Lighting and Building Automation Solutions, is proud to announce the acquisition of a 19.3% ownership stake in Zimi Limited (ASX:ZMM), an Australian innovator in smart IoT electrical devices. This significant investment, part of Zimi’s recent $2.375 million shortfall placement, strengthens the collaboration between the two companies, marking a pivotal moment in their shared mission to drive innovation in smart building solutions. 

The investment highlights zencontrol’s commitment to expanding its influence in the rapidly growing smart technology market. Zimi’s innovative products, including smarter switches, light dimmers, and home automation devices, complement zencontrol’s vision of creating more connected and intelligent building ecosystems. 

In addition to the investment, zencontrol’s Managing Director, Joshua Newell, has been appointed to Zimi’s Board of Directors, further cementing the strategic alignment between the two companies. His extensive experience in global lighting control and smart building technologies is expected to bring valuable leadership to Zimi as it embarks on its next phase of growth. 

“Zimi aligns with our core values,” said Joshua Newell, Managing Director of zencontrol. “Our focus has always been on simplifying and enhancing building control systems, and Zimi’s solutions align with our global sales strategy. We see significant potential to leverage synergies in manufacturing, product development, and marketing, ultimately delivering greater value to both commercial and residential sectors.” Joshua Newell, Director at zencontrol

In addition to the equity investment, zencontrol and Zimi have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an exclusive range of ‘Senoa Professional’ products targeted at the global commercial lighting control market. This collaboration is expected to streamline production processes and enhance cost efficiencies, positioning both companies for accelerated growth in the smart building industry. 

This partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to advancing smart building technologies and capitalising on the rapidly evolving Internet of Things (IoT) market. 

For More Information: https://zencontrol.com

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Meridian is excited to announce the appointment of a new distributor for the United Arab Emirates. Based in Dubai, Minara is the latest addition to Meridian’s growing global hub of distributors, delivering high-quality automation and audio-visual solutions to dealers in the region. To celebrate this new partnership, Minara is planning a dedicated Meridian event on Tuesday 26th November in its showroom in Dubai.

Watson Floyd Crasta, Technical Director of Minara, said: “We are excited to be named as the newest distributor for Meridian in the UAE region. At Minara, our mission is to successfully build our partner brands and grow businesses, whilst working with dealers to deliver exceptional products to homeowners. Meridian’s innovative premium range of loudspeakers looks and sounds amazing. We look forward to working with the Meridian team and showcasing the brand’s iconic appeal in our showroom.”

On demonstration at the event, Minara will showcase the Meridian DSP9 Reference loudspeaker in Volcanic Orange. The DSP9 combines aesthetics and performance, compacting years of research investment from Meridian’s Extreme Engineering Programme to deliver a level of engineering and operation never previously achieved on a loudspeaker of this size.

The attendees will also be able to experience Meridian’s newest product, Ellipse. The high-end wireless streaming speaker offers lifestyle luxury for homeowners, delivering powerful sound in a compact, elliptical form factor. With straight out-of-the-box playability, Ellipse includes the easy-to-use Meridian Control app and integration with premium streaming apps, ensuring it seamlessly fits into a space.

Speaking about the event, International Sales Manager at Meridian, Jeremy Brown stated: “It is great to see Meridian expanding our distributor network in the region. Showcasing the DSP9 and Ellipse at the Minara Experience Center enables us to have valuable conversations with dealers about the expert technology that drives these products, whilst also highlighting our proud partnership with Minara.”

Minara first introduced its distribution partnership with Meridian through a display of DSP9s at a Dealer Event held at the Minara Experience Centre in September. The evening featured engaging demos and valuable networking and enabled Meridian to share their expertise with attendees and deepen an understanding of the brand. As Meridian’s newest distribution partner, Minara will open a door for Meridian’s brand success in the region, delivering Meridian’s unrivalled performance to new customers.For More Information: www.meridian-audio.com

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Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a global leader in wireless technology innovation, announced the launch of the Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite, a groundbreaking wireless networking platform set to transform how people will experience their networks with edge AI integration. Leveraging an AI co-processor with 40 TOPS of NPU processing power, the platform delivers elevated Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and networking performance while also equipping connected devices with powerful and centralized generative AI processing capabilities.

This transformative integration of computing power into the network unlocks opportunities for operators and enterprises to deploy innovative applications and services in areas such as security and surveillance, energy management and automation, personalized virtual assistants, aging in place and health monitoring among others. Edge AI can enhance privacy by processing sensitive information on the gateway while enabling personalization through contextualized understanding of the environment and immediacy through near real-time responses. This approach unlocks the power of advanced AI for more devices, even legacy ones, enabling a more reliable and harmonized user experience across connected devices. 

“With the Networking Pro A7 Elite, we proudly launch the AI networking era, a continuation of our long focus on the most valuable applications and use cases for our customers and their users,” said Ganesh Swaminathan, Vice President and General Manager, Wireless Infrastructure and Networking, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “The Networking Pro A7 Elite integrates key elements – from broadband to antenna – including 10G Fiber, 5G, Ethernet, RF-Front End modules, and filters into one integrated platform. This class of gateways and routers brings transformative AI processing capabilities to not only manage the modern demands of the most dynamic Wi-Fi 7 networks, but also give rise to a new generation of generative AI-powered services that can be more seamless, responsive, personalized, and privacy-rich.”

The platform, designed with developers and ecosystem partners in mind, accelerates market entry and fosters AI-enhanced application development through access to the Qualcomm AI Hub where developers can create new applications and experiences, highlighting Qualcomm Technologies’ dedication to tech innovation and excellence.

This new era of AI networking for Wi-Fi routers, mesh systems, broadband gateways, and access points, fueled by the Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite, is already garnering global industry support.

“Wi-Fi access points are the gateways to the internet and are at the heart of connected experiences within the home,” said Phil Solis, Research Director at IDC. “It is exciting to see Wi-Fi gateways, like the Qualcomm Networking Pro A7 Elite platform, evolving into AI edge platforms. This transformation bridges the gap between cloud AI and on-device AI, paving the way for a new stage of innovation in smart home devices, their user interfaces, integration, and applications. This evolution also opens up new business models for service providers, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of home networking technology.”

 For More Information: https://www.qualcomm.com

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The Ekinex® FF OMNIA series introduces the innovative OMNIA Universal Pushbutton, available in two configurations: Dry contact (EK-ED2-NC) and Open Drain (EK-ED2-NB). Designed for versatile control of lighting, motorized drives, and more, these low-voltage pushbuttons operate within a 5-24 Vdc range, ensuring compatibility with various control systems. Each device features 8 outputs and 8 inputs for driving integrated LEDs, with adjustable current settings via dip-switch, and includes physical buttons and white LEDs for intuitive user interaction.

Installation is straightforward, utilizing pre-assembled flat cables or a backplane with an adapter. The wiring options allow for connections to I/O modules with digital inputs, series pulse relays for non-electronic lamps, or direct integration with the Crestron C2N-UNI8IO interface. The pushbutton operates effectively within a temperature range of -5°C to +45°C, with storage and transport temperatures of -25°C to +55°C and -25°C to +70°C, respectively. It is designed with durable plastic housing, is flush-mounted for a sleek aesthetic, and fits seamlessly with the Ekinex® FF series. The device has a protection rating of IP20, weighs 65 g (including the mounting bracket), and measures 82 x 79 x 19 mm (with adapter).

Included in the delivery are the pushbutton device, a square metal bracket, and both plastic and fixing screws (M2.9×25 mm and M2.9×38 mm). To enhance functionality, optional accessories are available for separate purchase, including the EK-ACC-SCM universal interface, EK-ACC-CAA pre-wired connector, EK-ACC-CAC connector for Crestron compatibility, as well as square or rectangular rockers and frames in Form or Flank versions.

For More Information: https://www.ekinex.in

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