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The Inside CI podcast is dedicated to the custom installation (CI) industry, offering an insider’s perspective on the technologies, trends, and personalities driving the world of smart homes and professional AV. Through relaxed, in-depth conversations, the show connects listeners with industry experts, manufacturers, and installers to explore everything from cutting-edge home cinema and automation systems to business insights and real-world project experiences. Rather than surface-level news, the focus is on authentic discussions—unpacking challenges, innovations, and the thinking behind the products and projects shaping the market. Each episode gives listeners a chance to hear directly from the people at the heart of the industry, making it valuable for professionals, enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how modern connected homes come together. Whether you’re an installer, a tech brand, or simply passionate about high-end AV and smart living. The Inside CI Podcast delivers practical insight, industry knowledge, and genuine stories from inside the world of custom integration. Are you a CI Insider?  Get involved hello@insideci.com

  1. We Walk Through The CAVD Showroom And Explain What Makes A Home Cinema Feel Finished

    APR 15 ·  VIDEO

    We Walk Through The CAVD Showroom And Explain What Makes A Home Cinema Feel Finished

    Send us Fan Mail Sign up for our weekly newsletter - https://linkly.link/2gPF0 You can tell a lot about an AV company by what they choose to demo and what they choose to hide. We’re back at CAVD Distribution in Marlow to see what’s changed since last time, and the answer is clear: they’ve rebuilt the showroom around systems that look and behave like real homes, not fantasy installs. Jamie and Mel walk us through how they think about momentum in a tough market, why “people buy from people” still holds, and what separates a good product from a dependable solution for integrators and homeowners. We get hands-on with the current lineup, including Origin Acoustics for discreet architectural audio and Leon Speakers for design-led home theater sound that actually complements the room. From lighting-friendly speakers to art-style acoustic panels, the conversation keeps circling one idea: leave nothing unfinished. We also talk about the growing shift toward single-room AV solutions, when a simple TV remote can be the right call, and when full control systems still make sense for premium projects. Then comes the big announcement: CAVD is the new UK distributor for Krix, the Australian cinema speaker brand built for serious home cinema performance behind the screen. We dig into why CAVD chose Krix, what dealers get in terms of testing, stock support, training, and design help, and how they’re streamlining their portfolio so integrators can spec faster with more confidence. If you’re a custom AV integrator, home cinema designer, or homeowner researching a home theater build, press play, share this with someone planning a project, and subscribe for more. After you listen, what matters more to you: invisible tech or statement design? Learn more about CAVD - https://linkly.link/2acM7 Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Start earning Microsoft points using the Bing app and get discounts on your Tech - https://linkly.link/2gVsi Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    40 min

  2. APR 14

    CAVD Explains Why Great AV Systems Start With People

    Send us Fan Mail Sign up for our weekly newsletter - https://linkly.link/2gPF0 A home cinema can be the most exciting room in the house, or the most frustrating, and the difference often comes down to choices that nobody sees: the right speaker approach, the right support, and a system that matches how you actually use your home. We’re back at CAVD Distribution in Marlow with Jamie and Mel to hear what they’ve changed since last year, how they rebuilt parts of the showroom, and what they think matters most as the custom AV world moves through 2026. We talk through two complementary philosophies in home theater and home audio. On one side, Origin Acoustics brings architectural and invisible speaker options that keep rooms clean while still delivering real impact, from living rooms to outdoor audio to dedicated cinema. On the other, Leon Speakers leans into interior design, with solutions that can frame a TV, blend with finishes, or even present audio as functional art. If you’re thinking about upgrading an existing home, we also get into why retrofit-friendly ideas and “single-room” setups are becoming more common, especially as people accept app-based control and want fewer layers of complexity. Then comes the big news: CAVD is appointed as the new UK distributor for Crix, a cinema-focused speaker brand with a strong build-and-test culture. We unpack why Crix fills an important gap, how CAVD is streamlining its portfolio to stay sharp, and what integrators need most right now: reliable stock, responsive help, and design support that saves time on real projects. If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share it with an integrator or home cinema fan, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s your priority in a media room: invisible tech, design-forward hardware, or maximum performance? Learn more about CAVD - https://linkly.link/2acM7 Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Start earning Microsoft points using the Bing app and get discounts on your Tech - https://linkly.link/2gVsi Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    40 min
  3. When Installers Become Publishers - A new chapter for InsideCI

    APR 7

    When Installers Become Publishers - A new chapter for InsideCI

    Send us Fan Mail Sign up for our weekly newsletter - https://linkly.link/2gPF0 A home cinema business announcement turns into a full tour of what’s changing across UK AV. I’m sharing the news that I’m joining InsideCI as owner director, working alongside founder David Slater, with Steve May continuing to steer the editorial direction. If you rely on InsideCI for weekly trade news, reviews, and real installer perspective, the goal is simple: keep what works, add more video, more factory and showroom access, and more conversations that help integrators and enthusiasts make better decisions.  From there, we get practical. We talk display tech in plain terms: LG’s push toward RGB backlights as a step up for LCD TVs, where it helps, and why OLED still sets the bar for consistency. We also dig into a training-first approach to better systems, including Monitor Audio’s new performance center and the Elevate Sound Performance Academy, built to sharpen system design, product knowledge, and support for integrators, retailers, and specifiers.  The industry isn’t only about shiny new products, either. We highlight givingback.tech, a UK platform that helps charities access professional AV equipment by letting manufacturers, distributors, consultants, and installers donate surplus or older kit responsibly. Add in distributor moves like Crix landing with CAVD, a busy run of demo events, and an Optoma projector showcase at AWE featuring a bright 4K UHD RGB triple-laser model with Dolby Vision, and you’ve got a snapshot of where home cinema and AV integration is heading.  We wrap with a quick but important calibration tip for Sony Bravia OLED owners: the Amazon Prime video setting can make content look painfully dark, so it’s worth checking before you blame the TV. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with one person who loves home theater, then tell us what topic you want us to chase next. Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    58 min
  4. Inside Meridian HQ And The Engineering Behind DSP Loudspeakers

    MAR 31

    Inside Meridian HQ And The Engineering Behind DSP Loudspeakers

    Send us Fan Mail Sign up for our weekly newsletter - https://linkly.link/2gPF0 A lot of home cinema builds fail for one boring reason: they start with a shopping list instead of a design. From Meridian HQ in Huntingdon, we sit down with Barry to get into what actually makes a system feel cinematic, and why the “made in Britain, built-to-order” mindset still matters when you’re spending real money on audio. We go deep on Meridian’s DSP loudspeakers, where digital signal processing is not a buzzword but the foundation. Barry explains group delay and why timing coherence can beat raw frequency specs when you’re chasing realism, space, and that you-are-there feeling. We also unpack the practical engineering behind high-power arrays that get louder without the nasty side effects of comb filtering, plus how in-wall and floor-standing designs share the same core principles of inert enclosures and controlled performance. Then we zoom out to system building: when a living room is better served by two exceptional speakers instead of a compromised surround setup, how to wire for upgrades, and what a modern all-digital cinema chain can look like with Trinnov processing. On the video side, Distributed by Meridian (DBM) and Barco projection come up as part of a balanced approach where brightness, viewing angles, and calibration matter as much as the audio. We also touch Meridian’s licensing and consultancy work, from Jaguar Land Rover systems to headphones and airline cabins, and why the brand promise has to sound like Meridian everywhere it appears. Subscribe for more real-world home theater and hi-fi conversations, share this with a friend planning a cinema room, and leave a review with the one upgrade you’d prioritise first: speakers, processing, or projection. Learn more about Meridian - https://linkly.link/2enZO Learn more about DBM - https://linkly.link/2enZP Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    1h 6m

  5. MAR 24

    Lutron's Circadian Lighting, UniFi Networks, And High-End Install Realities

    Send us Fan Mail Sony is partnering with TCL for Bravia manufacturing. Panasonic is handing European TV production to Skyworth. Barco is moving to acquire Focal and Naim. If those headlines made you stop scrolling, you’re not alone, and we wanted to talk through what they could actually mean for premium home cinema, custom installation, and the screens and sound systems we put in real homes.  We’re recording in a new remote format, so you get more frequent “what we’re seeing right now” updates from the field. Simon and I recap the highlights of ISE Barcelona, including demos that genuinely pushed the experience forward, plus the gear and ideas that feel practical for homeowners. We also get into lighting and control, especially Lutron’s impressive circadian-style approach, and why smarter distributed hardware can matter in high-end apartments and tight plant-room layouts.  From there, we switch to real project work: a new-build dedicated cinema that’s behind schedule, seating lead times, calibration and OLED installs, and even the kind of curveball every integrator knows too well, like a pool wave machine that suddenly requires Wi-Fi to function. We also talk networking upgrades with UniFi, because a fast, stable network is the foundation for streaming, multi-room audio, control systems, and app-driven living.  Finally, we unpack the bigger industry shifts: how TV partnerships might affect quality, model ranges, and long-term support, plus what Barco’s move into luxury audio could signal for integrated AV ecosystems. If you care about home theater design, AV installation, high-end audio, and where the market is heading next, there’s a lot here to chew on. Subscribe, share this with an AV-obsessed friend, and leave us a review with your take: which headline changes the industry most? Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    56 min
  6. Tech Talk News - AudioControl Hyperion Series Brings Pro-Grade Processing To Custom Home Theaters

    MAR 20

    Tech Talk News - AudioControl Hyperion Series Brings Pro-Grade Processing To Custom Home Theaters

    Send us Fan Mail AudioControl just drew a bold new map for high-end home theater, and we walk through what it means for anyone building serious cinema rooms or installing them for clients. I’m Ron, and I’m breaking down the company’s Hyperion series, a new lineup that blends decades of audio engineering with modern video handling and networked audio thinking. The headline is clear: Hyperion is designed as an ecosystem that aims to deliver accurate, immersive sound while making complex installs easier to plan, control, and scale. We dig into the Hyperion APR 16 Surround Processor, a 16-channel processor built in-house to tackle demanding surround layouts with precise customisation for real rooms. We also cover the performance and integration details that matter to pros and enthusiasts alike: premium 32-bit DACs, high-resolution audio support, pixel-accurate HDMI video, plus built-in compatibility management and a flexible control API for smoother setup and automation. If you care about reliability and future-proofing, we also look at the networking side with Dante and AES67 support, and why planned updates can be a big deal for long-term system value. From there, we move to the rest of the lineup: Hyperion amplifiers in four-, five-, and seven-channel options built for scalable system design, and the Hyperion Access Line converters that pull high-quality audio from modern TVs and streaming setups and distribute it across a home network. The advanced Access model even adds Dolby Atmos support and onboard tools for speaker tuning and calibration, potentially reducing extra hardware in the rack. If you’re tracking home cinema design trends, AV integration, Dolby Atmos system planning, or networked audio for next-generation theaters, this breakdown will help you understand what Hyperion is trying to solve. Subscribe for more audio technology news, share this with a home theater friend, and leave a review with the feature you most want in your next setup. Learn more about Audio Control - https://linkly.link/2eF39 To purchase the Hyperion APR 16 as a consumer, contact a Home Cinema Alliance Member - https://linkly.link/2SXfB If you are an integrator, reach out to CAVD - https://linkly.link/2acM7 of Habitech - https://linkly.link/2eF2d Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    3 min
  7. Inside Monitor Audio's Stunning New Experience Centre

    MAR 17

    Inside Monitor Audio's Stunning New Experience Centre

    Send us Fan Mail A great home cinema is not a shopping list. It’s a chain of decisions, from the room and the wiring plan to calibration and long-term support, and one weak link can ruin the magic. From Rayleigh, Essex, we walk through Monitor Audio’s brand-new Experience Centre and ask a simple question: how do you make high-performance sound repeatable for real homes, not just show demos? We’re joined by Michael Johnson to unpack why this 6,000-square-foot facility exists, how the lounge, two-channel music suite, and Trinnov waveforming cinema are built to reflect real listening spaces, and why the Elevate Sound Performance Academy is the next step for integrators and retail partners. We also dig into practical help that moves projects forward, including training, whether online or in person, plus free design services that turn rough room plans into diagrams, layouts, and visuals clients can actually understand. Then, technical director Michael Hedges takes us inside modern loudspeaker engineering: a transparent design philosophy, data-driven tuning, rapid DSP changes in the listening room, and simulation tools that get prototypes frighteningly close before the fine polishing begins. Finally, installer James Brown shares the behind-the-scenes build story, from acoustic isolation and “rooms within rooms” construction to the compromises every cinema room faces when noise, structure, and standards collide. If you care about home theater design, architectural speakers, smart home integration, and the craft behind great hi-fi sound, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend planning a media room, and leave a review with your go-to demo scene or reference track. Learn more about Monitor Audio - https://linkly.link/2dl33 Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    45 min
  8. The Steinway Lyngdorf Philosophy That Separates Good From Great

    MAR 10

    The Steinway Lyngdorf Philosophy That Separates Good From Great

    Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why some systems make you forget specs and just feel? We sit with Steinway Lyngdorf UK’s Charlie and Simon to unpack the craft behind statement audio: the brand partnership with Steinway that lends instant cultural weight, the all‑in‑house engineering that keeps signal paths pure, and the calibration smarts that let a system sound like itself in any room. From Essex hi‑fi rivalries and car‑culture origins to a world‑class showroom, their journey explains a sales style built on listening first and letting emotion lead. We dig into the architecture that separates mixed‑brand stacks from matched ecosystems. Each Steinway system ships with a unique file that predefines crossovers and gain, travels over a proprietary digital link, and arrives with a literal “passport.” On the Lyngdorf side, processors and MXA amplifiers win praise for ultra‑low noise floors, fast control integration, and RoomPerfect—calibration that measures the room’s fingerprint and restores a speaker’s native voice rather than forcing a generic target. That’s why Lyngdorf plays so well with other speaker brands while still shining brightest within its own family. The conversation also challenges a habit in custom install: hiding everything. Yes, in‑wall has its place, especially in theaters, but there’s power in a visible instrument. Like a grand piano, Steinway speakers—Model A, B, D—are objects of desire and feats of engineering. Clients don’t just hear them; they want them. We cover real‑world pricing, from attainable Lyngdorf FR systems that outclass many ceiling‑only setups to six‑figure Steinway rigs that include the electronics they require. Demos are tuned for everyday life, not “vivid mode,” because clear dialogue, believable dynamics, and that shiver‑down‑the‑spine track are what win hearts. Ready to hear the difference? Book a dealer‑hosted demo at the UK showroom, bring your favourite tracks, and decide with your ears. If this episode helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves great sound, and leave a quick review—your support helps more listeners find their next goosebump moment. Learn more about Steinway Lyngdorf - https://linkly.link/2daEs Get the latest News, Reviews and Opinions: HCA Tech Talk - https://linkly.link/2a0s3 Inside CI - https://linkly.link/2cM2p Support the Podcast by using our Affiliated links: Support the podcast by shopping on Amazon - https://geni.us/npUEx  An award-winning VPN deal from Surfshark - https://linkly.link/2cM3B Start your own podcast and receive $20 - https://linkly.link/2acMf Support the show

    1h 23m
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About

The Inside CI podcast is dedicated to the custom installation (CI) industry, offering an insider’s perspective on the technologies, trends, and personalities driving the world of smart homes and professional AV. Through relaxed, in-depth conversations, the show connects listeners with industry experts, manufacturers, and installers to explore everything from cutting-edge home cinema and automation systems to business insights and real-world project experiences. Rather than surface-level news, the focus is on authentic discussions—unpacking challenges, innovations, and the thinking behind the products and projects shaping the market. Each episode gives listeners a chance to hear directly from the people at the heart of the industry, making it valuable for professionals, enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how modern connected homes come together. Whether you’re an installer, a tech brand, or simply passionate about high-end AV and smart living. The Inside CI Podcast delivers practical insight, industry knowledge, and genuine stories from inside the world of custom integration. Are you a CI Insider?  Get involved hello@insideci.com

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