Home Theater Geeks 500: CEDIA 2025 Part 2
Host: Scott Wilkinson
Guest: Michael Heiss (industry consultant, journalist, CEDIA fellow)
Date: September 18, 2025
Overview
Celebrating the 500th episode, Scott Wilkinson and Michael Heiss reconvene for a detailed, engaging review of the CEDIA 2025 Expo. The conversation navigates through the show's standout audio products, AV processors, speaker innovations, and jaw-dropping demos, all within the custom install/home theater/smart home space. Their discussion offers a lively blend of inside anecdotes, critical insight, and technical overview, ideal for anyone passionate about the future of high-end home entertainment.
Main Topics & Key Discussion Points
1. CEDIA 2025 Expo: The Scene and Focus
- CEDIA Expo: A major trade show for home theater, smart home, and custom installation.
- Focus Shift: Not just home theater; increasing overlap with smart home and distributed audio systems.
- Location Note: Held in Denver, aka the "Mile High City," to which Scott jokes about not attending due to altitude.
- “Yeah, it's one reason I don't go there anymore.” —Scott Wilkinson [02:26]
2. Anniversary Milestone
- 500th Episode of Home Theater Geeks marked with celebration.
- “Happy birthday to you.” —Michael Heiss [02:55]
- “Here's to another 500, eh. Mazel tov.” —Scott/Michael [03:07]
3. Audio Product Trends
3.1 Two-Channel Resurgence & Design Changes
- Surprising volume of high-end two-channel gear at CEDIA.
- Industrial design: Sleek, minimalist, streaming-centric units, often with high-resolution color TFT displays replacing traditional buttons and VU meters.
- “There ain’t no buttons... That's where the market is.” —Michael Heiss [06:47]
- “The market is going for fewer buttons, buttons, buttons.” —Scott Wilkinson [07:26]
- Examples of new products:
- Anthem: High-end preamp & power amp; digital VU meters.
- ARCAM: SA45/SA35 integrated amps with streaming and elegant finishes.
- Onkyo: Icon P80 network preamp, M80 power amp — minimalist interface.
3.2 Technics and Turntables
- Technics showcased a suite of products, including turntables, highlighting continued vinyl relevance even in high-tech contexts.
4. Multichannel AV Trends & Tech
- Trinnov Altitude CI: Up to 32 channels, connects to power amps via a single AOIP (Audio Over IP) Ethernet cable (Dante/AES67) — simplifies wiring, suited for high-end, purpose-specific theaters [08:16–09:35].
- “All of the audio, all 16 channels or up to 32 channels, are going through that one Ethernet cable, which is really cool and it sounded good.” —Michael Heiss [09:35]
- AOIP trend across multiple vendors (Trinnov, Storm Audio)—no analog or legacy physical inputs on these processors.
- Integration with commercial cinema technologies (Dolby IMS 3000), facilitating home installations at near-commercial standards and addressing security concerns (anti-piracy).
Notable AVR (A/V Receiver) Insights
- Major legacy brands (Sony, Yamaha, Denon/Marantz, Onkyo) did not release new AVRs at CEDIA 2025 due to supply chain, economic, and technology stagnation.
- “There really isn't anything ... coming down the road that would make your AVR obsolete ... that's great news.” —Michael Heiss [16:58]
- Some high-end receivers "masquerade" as separates at astonishing quality/performance.
5. Speaker Innovation Highlights
Recognition
- Grimani Systems’ Anthony Grimani: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award; praised for technical expertise and industry impact [17:13–18:23].
- “He had a new speaker there, the MP84, which is a biamped in ceiling speaker.” —Scott Wilkinson [17:13]
In-wall/Invisible and Specialized Speakers
- Paradigm: FSC12SW vibration-cancelling in-wall subwoofer—great for reducing drywall rattling.
- Procella: UNO subwoofers, P5O C W on-wall/on-ceiling speakers, and P628 above-screen speakers (designed for DVLED displays).
- “Best demo I heard... was using that type of [on-wall/on-ceiling] speaker.” —Michael Heiss [19:42]
- Wisdom Audio: Focused on all-weather and line-array speakers for flexible installation options.
- Bluesound: Pulse Cinema Atmos soundbar with 16 drivers.
- Invisible Speakers: JBL, Anthem, Paradigm offer models installable behind drywall, suited for decor-sensitive projects.
"Embodied Sound" by Sweetwater/Edge Sound
- Transducers mounted behind walls/panels, not traditional “butt kickers” but useful in specific high-end applications (Vegas Sphere, NFL venues).
- “It is very unfair to compare them to a traditional speaker... that's not what this is for.” —Michael Heiss [24:00–24:28]
6. Notable Oddities & UI Trends
- Egg Chair "Listening Pod": Retro-futuristic seating, available in multi-speaker surround formats up to 22.2 [26:07–27:14].
- “It's very high end Japanese... that's 5.1, 7.1, or 11.1. It also comes in a single seat version. But that's no fun.” —Scott Wilkinson/Michael Heiss [27:09–27:19]
7. Major Demos & Show Stoppers
Seymour Screen Excellence/Christie Demo
- $1.3 million system, 14.18.10 layout (14 speakers, 18 top, 10 subs), Christie Eclipse $400k projector, panamorph lens, Storm Elite 32 processor.
- “To my ears, it was too loud. ... not to my taste.” —Michael Heiss [28:04–28:41]
- Screen design best part; innovative tensioning and masking. [29:06]
Ascendo "Halo" Demo
- Massive, unconventional donut-shaped speakers with central driver and (unseen in photos) 64" subwoofers.
- “The bass in that room was really, really good.” —Michael Heiss [32:50–33:10]
Quantum Media Systems & Theory Audio Design
- Theory’s demo earns top praise: Outstanding audio and presentation by Paul Hales—with system cost at $83,000 offering benefit vs. multi-hundred-thousand or million-dollar systems.
- “He gave a masterclass in audio... one of the best presentations I have ever seen.” —Michael Heiss [34:00]
- “To make it a $1.3 million system, buy a big house. And he had that on the screen.” —Michael Heiss [34:40]
- Use of pendant/ceiling speakers for immersive sound, impressive imaging with only overheads active.
Samsung Harman JBL Synthesis Demo
- Well-curated demo with proper calibration and ideal material, emphasizing installer expertise.
- “If you want to demo ... the key is curation of the material, given that the thing has to be set up right...that was pretty much the best demo.” —Michael Heiss [38:15–39:24]
Procella & Grimani Demos
- Not attended by Heiss this year, but both acknowledged for consistent excellence and rapid innovation.
- Speaker arrays and over-screen mounting prominent in demo setups, especially for DVLED displays.
8. Industry Insights & CEDIA Trends
- Strong attendance at CEDIA 2025 reflecting industry health; wide geographic diversity of attendees.
- Smart home integration (Control4, Josh AI, Crestron) increasingly interwoven with AV installs.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- “There ain’t no buttons... That's where the market is.” —Michael Heiss [06:47]
- “All of the audio, all 16 or up to 32 channels, are going through that one Ethernet cable, which is really cool and it sounded good.” —Michael Heiss [09:35]
- “There really isn't anything ... coming down the road that would make your AVR obsolete ... that's great news.” —Michael Heiss [16:58]
- “He gave a masterclass in audio... one of the best presentations I have ever seen.” —Michael Heiss [34:00]
- “To my ears, it was too loud. ... not to my taste.” —Michael Heiss [28:04–28:41]
- “If you want to demo ... the key is curation of the material, given that the thing has to be set up right...that was pretty much the best demo.” —Michael Heiss [38:15–39:24]
- “Innovations in high-end AV are no longer about more buttons but smarter, cleaner interfaces.” —Paraphrased, multiple [07:26; 14:29]
- “The CEDIA Expo... not just home theater, but ‘in and around the home’–outdoor audio, office setups, music rooms.” —Michael Heiss [03:37]
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
- Michael Heiss was encouraged by the vibrancy and attendance at CEDIA 2025, predicting a healthy year for both the home theater and broader smart home market.
- “There were a lot of people there, which is good for the association, but it's a good sign for the economy...” —Michael Heiss [42:17]
- The continued merger of pro cinema and residential AV, minimalist design, and integration of advanced networking protocols (AOIP) are rapidly changing the high-end market landscape.
- The best experiences (and most value) increasingly depend on precise system design, installer expertise, and thoughtful integration—not just MSRP.
Further Information
- Michael Heiss: Residential Tech Today (restechtoday.com), HiddenWires, michaelheiss.com
- Contact Scott: htgwit TV
This episode is a must-listen for tech and AV enthusiasts wanting a witty, knowledgeable insider’s view of home theater’s future, illustrated by product and demo highlights from CEDIA’s frontline.