Celebrating Innovation and Excellence at the Cutting Edge of Technology
VIEW 2024 WINNERS
Entries are open for our annual BEST (Best Electronic Systems Technologies) Products of the Year Awards.
View the 2023 CE Pro Best Award Winners.
The 2024 CE Pro BEST (Best Electronic Systems Technologies) Awards recognized the most innovative products in the professional channel across 32 categories. With 141 entries, the competition was fierce, with winners being decided by fractions of points. Judged on innovation, functionality, and benefits to installers, the awards highlight the cutting-edge advancements in the industry.
Loudspeakers
Tools, testing, and calibration
Business Operations
Home Theater/ Multi-room audio/video
Most Promising
Object-Based Surround Components/ Software
Smart Home App
Household Enhancements/ Installation Accessories
As you can see, there are plenty of categories in which we’re looking for innovative, creative, high-performance, and pragmatic solutions.
The Categories
Information Categories Winners
Peripherals and Enhancements
Control and automation
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Recognizing business operations software of all types for integrators, including accounting, design, job and payroll tracking, general administration, software design tools, etc. The category will also cover marketing software or programs for integrators. These can revolve around a particular product or class of products, or be focused on general services such as website SEO, video creation, social media marketing or CRM.
2024 WINNERS
D-Tools, Inc.: D-Tools Cloud
CONTROL & AUTOMATION
2024 WINNERS
Energy Management
Integrated Security System/Module/Device/Security Camera
Lighting Fixtures, Lighting Controls & Accessories
Motorized Shade Controls & Accessories
User Interface Devices: Touchscreens, Keypads, Remotes, Voice Control
Whole-House Control
Airzone: Webserver HUB
Level Home: Level Lock+ Connect - Pro Pack
Coastal Source: Evolution Lighting System (EVO)
Screen Innovations: Kaos
Savant: Native Siri Integration
PureEdge Lighting: Pure Smart TruColor RGBTW Technology
Nice: Home Management OS 8.9
Home Theater/ Multi-room audio/video
2024 WINNERS
AV-over-IP/Switchers
TV Display/ Ultra HD/ MicroLED
HDMI/HD-BaseT Extenders
Home Theater A/V Receivers & Source Components
Multi-room AV Components (Amplifiers, Receivers, Source Components, and Preamplifiers)
Media Servers/Streaming Media/DVRs
Mount/Lift/Media Concealment
Power Management, Generation, Surge Suppression
and Storage/Remote Services
Projection Screen
Projector
Racks, Furniture, Seating, and Acoustical Treatments
Wireless A/V Solution (amps, source components,
signal distribution solutions)
Just Add Power: MCQX
Quantum Media Systems: XDR Pro Cinema Video Wall
AudioControl/AVPro: eTV eARC to Dante Converter
AudioControl: AVPro
Kaleidescape: Strato V Movie Player
Wall-Smart: Invisible Mounts for iPad Pro 11 & 13 M4 with Ethernet Adapter
Denon: AVR-A10H
madVR: Envy Core
Leviton Manufacturing: 400 Amp Meter Main Load Center
Draper At Home: StyleLine
Epson America: QL7000 4K HDR High-Lumen 3LCD Laser Projector
Bluesound: NODE NANO
Household Enhancements/ Installation Accessories
2024 WINNERS
Cables & Cabling Products
Communications Products
Home Networking Device
Outdoor AV
Wellness Product
Cleerline Technology Group: Double Jacket Micro
Distribution Cable
2N/Axis Communications: 2N IP One
Access Networks: A770 Wi-Fi 7 Access Point
Samsung Electronics: The Terrace
loudspeakers
2024 WINNERS
Architectural Speakers
Floorstanding/Bookshelf Speakers
Soundbars/On-Wall/Single-Chassis Surround Loudspeaker
Origin Acoustics: TBD2
SVS: SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
Magna Audio: Apito & Sub Apito
Klipsch: Flexus Core 300
Object-Based Surround Components/ Software
MOST PROMISING
2024 WINNERS
(tie) SpecOp Secure: Cyber Protect
(tie) Alchimia: Alchimia Design - Lyngdorf Powered
Peripherals and Enhancements
SMART HOME APP
Recognizing the best app for single-purpose or multipurpose smart home control, including music, lighting, video, HVAC, and more.
TOOLS, TESTING & CALIBATION
2024 WINNERS
Blackwire Designs: Blackwire Network Provisioning Service
Early Bird Deadline: June 21st for $497. Regular Submission Deadline: August 9th for $597.
Extended Submission Deadline: August 16th
2024 WINNERS
Theory Audio Design: DLC Loudspeaker Controllers
Any new or upgraded peripheral device or stand-alone system used as an add-on sale to a system. This includes sports simulators, headphones, water leak detection, and power & thermal management devices.
NEW CATEGORY!
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, new smart thermostats with remote access programmability that are controllable by whole-house automation systems.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, a component or system for new construction or retrofit that makes up a complete security control system or contributes to the expansion of control system options. This category can include hardwired or wireless systems and CCTV surveillance cameras for residential use.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, a new construction or retrofittable system or component that makes up a complete lighting control system or contributes to the expansion of control system options. Items like wallplates that are not integral to the functions of a system are not applicable. This category also includes lighting fixtures, including low-voltage and high-voltage, landscape lighting, IP-controllable lighting, tunable white lighting and more.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, new construction or retrofittable system or component that makes up a motorized window treatment/shade/drape/blind control system. Items like wallplates that are not integral to the functions of a system are not applicable.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, a new graphical user interface (either dedicated or iPhone/iPad) that is either mounted in a wall, placed on a tabletop or handheld to provide a user with a visually driven, icon-based way to access and control their whole-house automation, home theater or multi-room audio/video system. Recognizing improvement in, or development of any new in-wall keypads or control for remote in-room control. Includes voice control.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new device that enables the control of audio/video source components, lighting control, HVAC or security, and/or provides the signal routing of audio and/or video signals in a multi-room audio/video system without providing amplification.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, products that select between several different audio/video sources and distribute audio/video signals, including AV-Over-IP systems used to transmit High-Res Audio, 3D, and Ultra HD, to various zones in a home.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new LCD, OLED, or LED video display, including smart TVs, 3D, 4K/Ultra HD. The category also includes microLED video walls.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, products designed to extend HDMI signals using HDBaseT or other technologies over Category cable.
Products in this category include Blu-ray disc players, streaming media devices, A/V receivers, computer-based devices, digital-to-analog converters (DAC), network media players, satellite radio products and portable device docking solutions. The category also includes analog turntables, phono stages (preamps), CD players, AM/FM tuners and other legacy solutions. These products must be compatible with solutions that are traditionally utilized in two-channel, home theaters, and whole-house audio systems.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new multi-room audio sound package that provides control, amplification, and distribution capabilities to outfit a home or dwelling with a multi-zone system; the package should be devices such as keypads, preamplification, and amplification BUT NOT loudspeakers. The category also includes components designed to actively service two or more rooms or zones as an amplifier, receiver or source component. For amplifiers, the component should include provisions such as remote triggering and daisy chain capabilities. For receivers, the unit should incorporate amplification for at least two zones and at least one source such as AM/FM radio and satellite radio, as well as multiple inputs for other sources that include CD and DVD players, cable and satellite set-top boxes, digital music players and turntables. Home theater receivers without any multi-zone capabilities are not considered in this category.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, products that store, record and stream video signals from the cloud or from other storage devices.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, new a wall-mount or ceiling-mount devices designed for flat-panel televisions or projectors in residential environments; rack devices and innovations for home theater applications; new flat-panel or projector lifts, including in-cabinet solutions and ceiling drop-lift solutions; new media concealment devices, including mirrors or art.
Recognizing the development of power management/surge suppression systems or remotely managed service devices designed to monitor and remotely service residential electronics, enabling the integration to take corrective action remotely or roll service vehicles preemptively. The category also includes back-up power generation and on-site power storage systems.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new video display screen for viewing front-projection images in a home theater environment.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new front-projection device designed for home theater use, including 3D and 4K.
Recognizing the development of racks, furniture, seating and acoustical panels or treatments that enhance the listening as well as the aesthetic environment.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new device that use wireless, powerline and MoCA technologies to distribute audio or video signals in the home.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, audio/video cabling (copper-based or fiber optic), including HDMI cable, dedicated audio cable, baluns and extenders.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, digital phone systems or dedicated intercom systems for residential use that integrate with a home’s A/V, control/security or phone functions. Also, the development of residential cellular phone signal boosters and video doorbells.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, residential routers, switches, modems, Networked Attached Storage (NAS) and wireless access points for home networking solutions.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, audio products designed for outdoor use, including displays, screens, and remote controls, and speakers designed to withstand weather-related environmental conditions, including rain, wind and sunlight. Enclosures for these transducers must be at least weather resistant.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, products or services that enable integrators to offer a wellness-related solution to their clients. Entries in this category can include products related to providing or controlling human-centric lighting/circadian rhythm lighting, indoor air quality monitoring and filtration, water quality management, soundscaping/natural sound, digital art, scent diffusion and more.
Less than $1,000 per pair / More than $1,000 per pair Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new transducer specifically designed to mount in a wall, for use in a home theater or multi-room audio system.
Less than $1,000 per pair / More than $1,000 per pair Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new transducer specifically designed for use in a 2-channel, home theater or multi-room audio system.
Recognizing improvement in, or development of, any new single-unit LCR loudspeaker or soundbar designed for use in a home theater environment, as well as non-LCR on-wall mounted loudspeakers.
Submit your showstopping new solutions today!
Any product that stands to revolutionize the category it is in and change the trend of product development and application. If you have an exciting new product that will not ship until 2022, consider entering the "Most Promising" award.
Loudspeakers and A/V electronics that have specific provisions and software to recreate today's new era of object-based surround formats, including Dolby Atmos approved/certified modules, A/V receivers and preamplifier/processors that include object-based surround sound processing options, and music and movie discs that include object-based surround sound formats.
Any new or upgrade device used by professional integrators to assist them in the installation or service of a system.
2024 WINNERS
Nexus 21: L-771i/ix Drop-Down TV Lift
2024 WINNERS
OliverIQ: OliverIQ App
The WINNERS
Designer Display
2024 WINNERS
LG Electronics: Signature OLED T
Designer display
These high-end displays are built to be more than just screens for watching television and movies. They are designed with a home's aesthetics in mind, serving as works of art — not just blank screens — when not in use.