Industry Leading Companies Missing the 2009 CEDIA Expo
Is the CEDIA Expo shrinking? Of course it is, as are many trade shows in the current economic climate. What's stunning about CEDIA are the recent announcements that so many pillar manufacturers are not going to be at the show this year. Some have made noises about possibly having some off site presence, but they will not have booths on the show floor or have an official CEDIA presence. First the move from Denver to Atlanta, now this?So, what manufacturers are playing hooky from the 2009 CEDIA expo? The following manufacturers have already officially announced they will not be there, or there are credible rumors to the effect: Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell Acoustics, Escient, Elan, Sunfire, Planar, Runco, and Xantech. Those are some of the real leaders in the custom residential electronics installation industry, and it will not be the same without them, and their opulent booths on site.
Xantech, Sunfire, and Elan are part of the Linear Group. Linear also owns Linear, a leader in the security industry, who is also typically exhibiting at the CEDIA Expo, but the real shocker is the other Linear companies Niles Audio, and Speakercraft. Could they be absent from the show this year as well? That would mean the core of the custom installation industry would be eviscerated, with a solid number of key players choosing to sit it out for at least a year. Even with only the confirmed absences, the Expo won't have the same import as in years past.
If Speakercraft isn't there, who will replace Jeremy's incessant blathering over the venue's PA system? Hey, it's a custom A/V installation show. At least make sure the announcements aren't driven to the point of distortion and (for many attendees) pain.
