With the Pulse Cinemas/Invision team in full force at this year’s ISE, dealers had expert support on hand to get the most from the show. Here are the key highlights and insights from the floor.

 

For the AV and home cinema community, Trinnov made a significant impression, taking part in one of the marquee demonstrations. The company highlighted the power of its platform, including the recently introduced AltitudeCI. Nick Osborne, Key Account Manager, Invision/Pulse Cinemas, remarks:

 “The new Dante board with decent DACs is great news. Most other Dante power amps lack decent DACs, a vital part of delivering next level audio. The new AltitudeCI underlined why it is perfect for CI installs and the team were also able to explain how powerful the new calibration software is. Demonstrated at the show and also now available to experience at Pulse Cinemas, Waveforming gives seat-to-seat consistency for bass and still delivers the most immersive audio on the market.”


Visiting ISE for the first time, Jack Woolman, Key Account Manager, was equally impressed, “The big message for me was scalability without compromise. The CI platform isn’t a cut-down Trinnov. It’s proper Trinnov performance in a more flexible chassis.”


Alcons Audio also stood out, returning as the audio backbone of the large reference cinema at Pulse HQ. Their demonstration featured the M-series—MR12 as LCR, MR10 as width and MR5 as base-layer surround - supported by the CRMSC-SR series handling the surround channels. Nick underlines that this year’s demo clearly showed what makes Alcons Audio different, with superb performance across the audio spectrum, leveraging ribbon technology for effortless, accurate bass. Jack agrees:


“Hearing this brand again reinforced why we put it back into the reference cinema room at Pulse Cinemas,” he says. “It’s not about volume, it’s about effortlessness. Huge headroom, clarity at any level and zero harshness. Come and have a listen at Pulse HQ very soon!”


Kaleidescape also impressed, appearing across multiple show-floor demos and reinforcing its position as the go-to platform for high-quality visuals. Nick comments, “New, much more accessible price points are making the Strato E in particular the default source component for movie lovers. It is the easiest upgrade for any decent cinema or a great place to start when building a new project.” Jack adds:


“What stood out wasn’t just the hardware, it’s how embedded the platform now is across demo spaces. The new Strato E makes true 4K cinema more accessible at entry level, which feels important. But for me, the unsung hero is still the Strato M. We’re so used to TV marketing calling everything ‘4K’ that people forget what true 4K and even true 2K actually looks like at proper bitrates and that’s not even mentioning the lossless audio. When clients see and hear it side by side, the difference speaks for itself.”


madVR was another highlight in the home cinema space, presenting its next-generation Envy Extreme MK3 and Core MK2 video processors alongside a major 2025 software release. With HDMI 2.1 supporting full 48 Gbps input and output, advanced GPUs and Variable Refresh Rate up to 360Hz, the platform delivers strong performance for both cinema enthusiasts and gamers. Jack notes:


“You genuinely have to see it to believe why it’s different. The ClearPix Ultimate White material in particular stands out. The woven structure, brightness retention and acoustic transparency just perform at a different level.”

 

The 2025/6 period marks a significant evolution for intelligent remote AVA. Last year’s 2.0 software launch redefined what a compact handheld controller can achieve. The system now powers the entire Pulse demonstration space. Nick says:


 “The new AVA software platform was very well received and upcoming integration with Crestron Home is also fabulous news. The ability to run both drivers and native apps on one platform is just fabulous.”


Jack adds, “The 2.0 updates feel like a real step forward. It’s moved from being seen as the new disruptor to a serious, mature control platform. The hardware build quality also impressed a lot of people seeing it in person for the first time.”


Lithe Audio showcased three new concepts, starting with an 8in Auracast-capable installation speaker due in May. Nick explains Auracast is a Bluetooth mesh technology delivering reliable multi-channel systems and supporting assisted living applications. The Hylo Amp, launching in October, combines amplification and connectivity from the Lithe Pro Series and can power up to four passive speakers, offering both upgrades and flexible new installations. A PoE module, arriving in April, provides power and audio delivery over Ethernet for integrated Lithe Audio speakers.


Sonos also attracted attention with its new Amp Multi, extending the platform to larger homes while maintaining the brand’s signature sound and simplicity. With eight amplified outputs delivering 125 watts each and support for up to four configurable zones, Nick highlights that it enables easier installation, more commercial applications and better margins.


Other notable innovations included DoorBird, with new 5G door stations and internal panels improving connectivity and system resilience, and Vicoustic, whose absorption panels and frame-mounted solutions were a hit on the stand.


Jack concludes:

“One brand that really stood out for me was GFC (Grand Film Chairs). Seeing the products in person and meeting the team behind the brand gave real context. It’s not just seating, it’s craftsmanship and positioning made in the EU for the EU market. I spoke to a few dealers who said that after seeing it, they felt confident going back to the interior designer and collaborating on the solution rather than simply handing that part of the project over because ‘that’s what normally happens’. That shift in confidence is powerful.”