As we do each year, the staff at Residential Systems has named their Picks Awards winners for CES 2023. Only products that were submitted to the awards program were eligible to win; entries were judged based on their potential impact on the custom installation industry.
Here are the Residential Systems Picks Award winners for CES 2023:
Dirac Live Active Room Treatment
Dirac Live Active Room Treatment is the latest in Dirac Live’s family of features designed to address bass resonance and room decay time to produce a cleaner, tighter bass experience than ever before possible. Dirac Live Active Room Treatment will debut in all StormAudio AVRs through a Spring 2023 firmware update.
Dirac Live Active Room Treatment leverages Dirac’s expertise in MIMO mixed-phase impulse response correction technology to enable spatial optimization, whereby all speakers in a sound system cooperate with each other to accomplish what passive acoustic treatments struggle to achieve. With decay times reduced digitally and automatically, listeners experience clear sound devoid of boomy, smeared bass – as if the room itself didn’t exist.
In many listening spaces, like home entertainment rooms, it can take a long time for bass to decay — or stop bouncing around the room — resulting in ringing or booming. Dirac Live Active Room Treatment automatically evaluates and adjusts the bass characteristics of the entire system, leveraging the strengths of each speaker to make up for any shortcomings in other speakers.
IPEVO TOTEM 120 Multimodal Collaboration Camera
IPEVO TOTEM 120 is a conference cam, a demo cam, and a document camera in one, with a design optimized for conferencing at the eye level, online product demonstrations, and sharing of documents and other visual materials.
Switch between the 120-degree and the 80-degree lenses to match your FOV need. The 120-degree ultra-wide lens is ideal for huddle room conferencing or presentations. The Autofocus built in the 80-degree lens provides a detailed experience for document sharing and individual video calls. The built-in Sony CMOS sensor delivers 4K quality in any kind of environment lighting.
Plug-and-play compatible with Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GoToMeeting, and more — on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.
Hisense L9H TriChroma Laser TV
The L9H TriChroma Laser TV is Hisense’s enhanced version of the L9 series. It features Hisense’s notable TriChroma laser light engine, the same triple-laser system used in the L9G and PX1-PRO.
The 3000 Lumen ultra-short throw projection TV features Hisense’s triple laser light engine with red, green, and blue laser light sources that can reach 107 percent of the BT.2020 color space. In addition, 3000 lumens of brightness, HDR10, and the addition of Dolby Vision further enhance the overall viewing experience.
One of the greatest values of the L9H Laser TV is the inclusion of a perfectly paired ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screen to remove the guesswork from projector and screen pairing. This year the L9H features a new, high-gain ALR screen that brings a vibrant, crystal-clear picture in any light condition, making it the perfect addition to any room.
Hisense Smart Mini Projector
The Smart Mini Projector is an entirely new product category of portable laser offerings that Hisense has added to its growing laser lineup this year as part of its continued mission to provide versatile and affordable laser offerings for every home cinema need. As consumers continue to prioritize flexible and cost-effective offerings, The Smart Mini Projector meets those needs while still providing an impeccable viewing experience. Additionally, it also pairs with the largest screen size option from Hisense to date: 150 inches.
Featuring a TriChroma triple laser light engine, it delivers a vivid, immersive movie theater anywhere — room to room and even outdoors. The portable size allows for easy transport, while its ease of setup creates endless viewing opportunities with Dolby Vision and HDR10 to further enhance the 4K UHD picture. The addition of Dolby Atmos, DTS audio, as well as two 20W speakers, creates an impressive, portable soundscape.
Pure Fi Ultra High-Speed HDMI Active Optical Cable
The new Pure Fi Ultra High-Speed HDMI Active Optical Cable (AOC) enables ultra-high-resolution video transmission over extended runs with near-zero latency or EMI interference. Capable of supporting HDMI 2.1a features, including up to 10K video content at 60 Hz over extended runs, this new AOC is designed for smart home applications as well as broader use across the professional AV space. The new Pure Fi AOC comes in 15-, 25-, and 50-foot lengths, with custom lengths of 300-plus feet available upon request.
Pure Fi designs, engineers, and manufactures its proprietary chipsets and system in-house, giving the company full control of the entire manufacturing and distribution process. Pure Fi’s expertise in optoelectronics enables the company to drive high-speed data over long distances to create smarter connected solutions for the professional AV market. It provides throughput up to 48 Gbps, supporting 8K content at 60 Hz or 4K content at 120 Hz. Pure Fi’s 50-foot AOC is certified through the Ultra High Speed HDMI cable certification program, and additional lengths of 15 and 25 feet are in the process of being certified.
Samsung HW-Q990C Soundbar
The new Samsung HW-Q990C is a 11.1.4-channel audio, rear speaker, and subwoofer set that uses AI and second-generation, room-analyzing Spacefit to automatically optimize individual driver frequencies and gain to match any space. It can also synchronize with speakers and neural processor chips inside Samsung TVs for multi-channel performance. When working in tandem with Samsung TVs, the HW-990C uses Q-Symphony 3.0 to isolate and precisely direct individual elements from film, TV, and game audio into 15.1.5-channel sound using both soundbar and TV speakers. Samsung technologies enable HW-Q990C to identify and isolate background noise while enhancing dialog, or adjust to low-volume nighttime listening needs, providing a premium, sonically optimized experience.
Adaptive Sound 2.0 offers clear sound using AI sound-optimization technology, while Game Pro 2.0 provides a soundfield mode suitable for the game’s genre. HW-Q990C includes a “night mode,” which helps reduce sound for users; when using night mode, the main soundbar and TV sound is turned off and sound is played exclusively through the rear subwoofer and side speakers. HW-Q990C also supports voice control and can be controlled via Wi-Fi or any SmartThings device.
Samsung The Premiere 8K Projector
Samsung’s Premiere 8K projector is the world’s first 8K ultra-short throw projector, capable of displaying 150-inch images on any wall. Boasting 8K resolution and vivid brightness, it delivers an immersive entertainment experience — complete with Dolby Atmos cinema surround sound. Unique to The Premiere 8K is a built-in 6.2.4ch 100-watt Dolby Atmos speaker system, eliminating the need for a soundbar. Consumers can create cinema-quality viewing experiences in the comfort of their homes, on any wall, no matter how large. Placed only millimeters from the wall, it can project a 150-inch 8K image; that’s over 20 inches larger than the previous 4K model, four times the resolution, and over 40 percent brighter, jumping to 4000 ANSI lumens from 2800.
Users and gamers can split the 8K display into four 4K sections for multiplayer games or split-screen news and entertainment purposes at super-sharp resolution.
Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt is one of the first smart locks to support Apple’s latest HomeKit advancement, Home Key. Home Key allows owners of iPhones and Apple Watches to tap and unlock Schlage Encode Plus deadbolt using their iPhone and Apple Watch for easy and secure access to their homes. It can also be simultaneously paired and managed by both the Schlage Home app and Apple Home app, and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Yonomi, so users can integrate the lock with other smart home devices and use those assistants to lock doors.
Skyplug Smart lighting base
Skyplug Smart lighting base transforms any style hanging luminaire into a plug-and-play smart light using a proprietary SkyHome App. Skyplug Smart features include phone control, Wi-Fi/BLE, voice control, scheduling, eco mode, dimming, color changing night light, and emergency light. Works with Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung, SmartThings, and Cortana. Skyplug Smart is a plug-in technology used on luminaires and fans that enhances safety by eliminating touching branch circuit electrical wiring. The Skyplug Smart can be used on luminaires (weight support rating of 50 pounds) and on ceiling fans (weight support rating of 75 pounds).
Skyplug Smart’s plug-in technology component is voted and recognized for its safety by the largest U.S. safety organizations such as the NFPA, NEC, ANSI, NEMA, IAEI & AIA.
Victrola Stream Onyx
The Victrola Stream Onyx is the second high-performance turntable in the Victrola Stream product line, verified by the Works with Sonos program. The turntable enables wireless streaming of vinyl records through an entire Sonos system with no additional equipment required. It features a modern, matte black design with high-quality materials and is a statement piece in any listening space. With premium components, including a custom-designed removable headshell and adjustable counterweight, along with either an Audio Technica AT-VM95E or Ortofon OM5E cartridge for high-fidelity sound, the Victrola Stream Onyx amplifies any listening experience.
Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by HALIO
HALIO develops and manufactures the world’s most beautiful smart glass system based on electrochromic (EC) technology. This next-generation solution includes an EC device that tints faster than anyone else in the industry today. It also includes tint level drivers, communications gateway electronics, and tint selectors/apps that control the tinting; a specialized, unique sky camera that senses daylight changes; and a cloud-based AI that analyzes and sets tint levels autonomously.
These components work together as a net-zero building material solution and integrate seamlessly with building management systems and controls, to work with brands like Siemens, Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and many others.
HALIO’s tinting technology tints fast, in real-time, adapting to any weather conditions in just minutes. It tints uniformly across any size window or facade without any discernable pattern. It tints to an optimal level to balance energy savings by blocking UV, solar heat, and occupant comfort by stopping glare while eliminating blinds.
