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Calling Year ‘Transitional,’ Sonos Reports Fiscal 2025 Results; Revenues Decline, Losses Increase

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CEO Articulates a New Strategy…But, Is It Really New?

Calling 2025 a “transitional” year, new Sonos, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO) CEO Tom Conrad suggested the company turned a corner in the fourth quarter, as part of reporting its financial results for fiscal 2025, the year that ended on September 27, 2025. However, I couldn’t help but notice company executives were carefully choosing their words in describing the company’s performance – referring to just certain key Q4 numbers and “adjusted” results. This always makes me want to take a deeper look, and when I looked at fiscal 2025’s total performance, it was disappointing, with revenues continuing to decline and losses progressively increasing…again.

Even in the fourth quarter, which the executives did want to talk about, the company lost $37.9 million.

Learn all about how Sonos performed in fiscal 2025…

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Crestron Opens Another Stunning Experience Center; This Time in EMEA

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Crestron Experience Center in Mechelen, Belguim
[Click to enlarge]

Crestron Electronics, a leading industry manufacturer of commercial and enterprise-grade connectivity gear, as well as sophisticated but simple control and automation solutions for the smart home, has launched another Crestron Experience Center (CEC) in Mechelen, Belgium. Not only does this stunning facility showcase the depth and breadth of Crestron technology, but it also demonstrates the company’s commitment to EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Asia) markets as well as to the greater global community.

See more on Crestron’s latest Experience Center in Belgium…

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After a Decades-Long Career, An Ex-Integrator Switches to the Client’s Side with Spexi Advisory

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A Spexi Advisory project image provided by Sean Weiner

By any measure, Sean Weiner has had an exemplary run in custom integration. His blue-chip resume includes significant roles with custom integrators such as Myer Emco, Starr Systems, and Bravas, where he was the organization’s Chief Technology Officer.

But now he’s left the role of integrator and created something new, called Spexi Advisory. And in so doing, he may have created a new business model – something that puts him on the side of the buyer (client).

See what Weiner has created…and if you should consider the same idea

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The Real Value of Attending CEDIA Expo is the Intangible Benefits

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A photo from CEDIA Expo 2025

A GUEST POST by Robert Archer

The past couple of years there’s been a lot said about the value and effectiveness of CEDIA Expo. While some of the criticisms may be valid, it does not mean that industry professionals should skip the event because its usefulness has passed.

Here are my thoughts on some of the powerful, but intangible, benefits of attending our industry’s most important trade show.

See Bob Archer’s thoughts on the intangible benefits of CEDIA Expo…

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Japanese Custom Home Builder Tests Clever Plan to Boost Revenues & Opportunities

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A home builder in Japan has a clever idea to boost revenues now and opportunities later
[PHOTOS: Rinano Katsu, Nikkei]

Cleverly Home, a custom home builder in Japan, has come up with a way to generate additional revenue from its model homes, while also opening up a new way for prospective homeowners to experience its designs. A reporter for the Nikkei in Japan was quite taken by the concept as the homebuilder will allow the model homes to be rented out as private lodgings on dates when no homebuyer showings are scheduled.

Learn all about custom home builder Cleverly Home’s clever idea…

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Azione Unlimited Launches the Azione Collective, An Internal Woman’s Group

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Photo from a past Azione Unlimited conference

Azione Unlimited, a leading North American buying group of upscale custom integrators, announced on Wednesday that it has formed the Azione Collective, a group of women drawn from all walks of the greater Azione ecosystem who have come together to “empower connection, mentorship, and growth.”

Learn more about Azione Unlimited’s Azione Collective

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Days After an Array of New Amazon Devices Debut, A Devices VP is Leaving the Company

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Amazon product launch in New York City on September 30, 2025
Panos Panay presenting at the Amazon product launch in New York City on September 30, 2025 [Click to enlarge]

Just days after Amazon put on its glitzy annual devices and services showcase for the media in New York City, employees were surprised to learn that a Vice President who helps oversee the devices division is leaving the company. In an internal memo circulated to employees, and viewed by Reuters News Agency, it was announced that Rob Williams, Vice President of Device Software and Services – and part of a small elite group of executives with direct access to CEO Andy Jassy known as the S-team – stepped down from his post…and furthermore, will leave the company entirely at year-end.

See more on the turmoil in Amazon’s money-losing devices division…

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AVPro Global Launches Expert Advisory Board; Names Wally Whinna as 1st Member

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AVPro Global Holdings logo

Here is a really smart idea: AVPro Global, one of the industry’s fastest-growing manufacturers of a wide range of products designed specifically for the residential and commercial custom integration spaces, is creating an “Expert Advisory Board.” Why is that smart? Because a well-selected advisory board can be a great sounding board (no pun intended) on strategies and tactics, and an almost limitless source of fresh ideas and perspectives for driving above-average growth.

The first expert appointed to this board is well-known industry executive Wally Whinna, formerly of ADI/Snap One, AVAD, Tandem Marketing, and Allnet.

See more on the new AVPro Global Expert Advisory Board

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At CEDIA Expo 2025, Attendance Continued Its Multi-Year Decline

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A sparse crowd gathered for the CEDIA Town Hall at CEDIA Expo 2025

Emerald Expositions, part of Emerald Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EEX) and owners of CEDIA Expo and CEPro, has reported that final attendance at CEDIA Expo 2025, “the premier event for the custom systems integration industry,” establishes it was yet another year of declining participation. This rather sobering news is consistent with feedback I received from several exhibitors at the event this year – almost all of whom told me that attendance was noticeably off, with several saying it was significantly down from last year.

Now we know with certainty, even with Emerald’s attempt to hide the real attendance figures, that attendance at Expo 2025 was in fact appreciably below attendance at Expo 2024 last year.

See more on the decline in attendance at CEDIA Expo 2025

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Masimo Completes Sale of Sound United to Harman International

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Sound United presentation at CEDIA Expo 2025
Sound United presentation to media at CEDIA Expo 2025 [Click to enlarge]

The long-awaited closing of Masimo Corp.’s (NASDAQ: MASI) sale of Sound United (formerly Masimo Consumer) to Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has been formally completed. Both parties of the transaction put out their own separate announcements, with Masimo’s version quite short and perfunctory, while Harman’s gave little more than an inkling of what is to become of Sound United.

Learn all about the completion of the sale of Sound United…

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