Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Best in Market awards, a co-production of Sound & Video Contractor, AV Technology, and Systems Contractor News. Winners are new products for 2024 and were judged by AV professionals from among submitted products.
This powerhouse multizone amplifier packs power and intelligent design in a single rack unit. The ability to deliver 1,600 watts of power across 8-ohm, 4-ohm, 70-volt, and/or 100-volt loads is very convenient for integrators and with less than 5 milliseconds of response time, the design saves clients’ money by minimizing operational costs in multizone installations. For maximum flexibility, the total power of two adjacent 400-watt channels is shared, delivering up to 800 watts per single channel, according to system requirements.
This BYOD/BYOM platform might just be the Swiss army knife for integrators needing to support meeting rooms with a mix of local computers and BYOD needs. The price point of TOGGLE ROOMS XT presents opportunity to both the integrator and client. The ability to have a single ecosystem scale from small conference rooms up to large multi-source environments is a win for everyone involved. The range of IO suits a broad range of applications.
The DisplayNet DN-300H SDVoE Transmitter / Receiver USB HID with its small fanless design and addition of USB HID support for KVM applications maximizes the versatility of the popular DN-300 AVoIP line. The ability to use 10G copper or fiber allows integrators to get the signal to their destination with a single tranceiver.
G&D PersonalWorkplace-Controller
The Guntermann & Drunck PersonalWorkplace-Controller GEN5 is a powerful multiviewer, originally designed for the rigors of operating rooms, and now available for diverse AV environments. The ability to order the PersonalWorkplace-Controller GEN5 in one of seven configurations provides integrators maximum flexibility without sacrificing a standardized user experience. Outputs can be configured as individual operator stations or combined for video walls.
The strength of this secure AES-256 wireless microphone system is the optionality of analog, Dante, and USB-C connectivity for computer, voice lift, and video conferencing codec use, as well as its automated frequency management, onboard DSP, and Teams certification models. The incredible battery life, choice of bodypack, handheld, or boundary, and allin-one receiver design further the value proposition of the MXW neXt 2 wireless system, especially for hybrid applications.
This 8×8 8K UHD HDMI 2.1 Matrix Switcher with Audio De-Embedder is fully capable of transmitting high resolution/rapid refresh rate with advanced features including auto-scaling and audio routing. It supports resolutions up to 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz with HDR. The slim 1RU chassis maximizes real estate and the user-friendly control app provides integrators with a low-cost solution for their clients to provide simple, affordable, and effective control of their signal flow.
The NEXT Hub provides an exceptional way for integrators to return to education clients with a way to extend the life of existing hardware and add new features while minimizing costs and eWaste. The simple OS update includes the addition of a web camera, soundbar, and optional 3-in-1 microphone system, which can yield impressive user experience gains. This solution provides an opportunity to showcase the value of working with knowledgeable integrators who can bring innovative and cost-effective solutions to their clients.
The Ross Quorum meeting production studio is innovative and empowers even the most inexperienced users to create highly polished presentation recordings and post-produced archival meetings. In this case, simplicity of operation does not have to come at the expense of professional results for streamed meetings and pre-recorded material. Integrated with Ross XPression, Quorum dynamically incorporates graphics; the system’s web-based workstation, powered by Ross’ Aura UI, is accessible on any device with a browser.
WyreStorm Technologies NetworkHD 500 Series
The NetworkHD 500s series is an AV over IP, Dante-enabled solution with a 4ms latency when transmitting 4K@60 video, maximizing video quality without sacrificing performance in mission-critical venues. The ability to reach this performance on a 1 GB network in a small energy-efficient chassis illustrates that WyreStorm understands how to maximize the potential of their hardware platform. The inclusion of ARC (Audio Return Channel) adds further flexibility, enabling audio to be sent back from the display to the encoder.
As a software-based production platform supporting 30 NDI inputs and six NDI outputs, Carbonite Code is one of the most cost-effective ways for integrators to build out and deploy large production environments that combine hardware features and reliability with the demand for NDI. Ross hardware is already trusted throughout the live production industry and the expansion of their software solutions built on years of experience shows that the future of production is bright.
Samsung Electronics QxC Series
The Samsung QxC Series Crystal UHD Signage is impressively slim at 28.5mm and the centered VESA holes on the back of the display save field installers time and money. Samsung reliability and impressive aesthetic anti-glare design help push the 20 available QxC models to the top of the class in 2024.
The Samsung Visual eXperience Transformation (VXT) content management system is a powerful cloud-native way for integrators to manage displays and digital signage content across a network or multiple organizations. VXT provides integrators the tools necessary to meet end-user security and operational needs without requiring additional hardware or programming expertise.
Samsung Electronics Color E-Paper
Samsung Color E-Paper (model EMD) is an impressively attractive hardware design for integrators to consider as an alternative to traditional print signage where digital signage may not be the right form factor. When you package a lightweight and portable color display and mobile app-based programming it allows integrators to think outside the box to help clients improve not only the aesthetic of their retail environments but to also increase customer dwell times and spending. With wall, ceiling, and tabletop mounting options, connectivity ports for most applications, and remote monitoring and management, it can slot into an existing digital network as well.
Blackmagic Design ATEM Constellation 4K
The Blackmagic Design ATEM Constellation 4K series continues to be one of the most versatile rack mount production switchers on the market. The compact hardware and user-friendly software platform meets the needs of integrators while also providing tremendous value and versatility for clients. The new Ultra HD models continue the family with up to 20 x 12G-SDI standards-converted inputs while keeping all the features that people love about ATEM Constellation.
Clear-Com’s GEN-IC cloud-based intercom system is a game changer and the pay-as-you-go, intercom-asa-service model opens new doors with old clients. The ability to shed traditional comms for the mobile devices and computers your clients already have in the field is liberating and allows integrators to provide relational value. For integrators, the ability to tie into clients existing intercom hardware using Clear-Com LQ Interfaces is a hybrid bonus. The included SkyPort admin portal gives resellers and integrators what they need to do the administrative side of the service offering and to set up customers to self-manage
