When Commercial Integrator conceived the BEST Awards, the founding vision was straightforward: Put simply, the program was created to highlight products and services that are genuine difference-makers in the commercial AV industry. In particular, to align with CI’s status as the business handbook for technology professionals, the BEST Awards program showcases offerings that help integrators sustain and grow their businesses.
When the awards program was created, though, no one could have imagined all the headwinds that integrators would face in a year like 2022 — namely, continued supply-chain snarls, multi-decade-high inflation, a lingering global pandemic, sky-high oil prices and a labor shortage. Thus, if ever there was a time to pay close attention to our BEST Award honorees and consider how you can benefit from their excellence, now is that time.
As opposed to operating the BEST Awards in a “crowd-sourced” way, CI relies on a panel of unbiased judges who have no affiliation with or connection to the candidates. Each judge assesses nominees independently, thus ensuring that each one is empowered to exercise their own judgment, free of undue influence.
For every candidate, judges consider three separate metrics: a product’s most important functional features; the benefits the product provides to the integrator; and the product’s design and/or technical innovation. Thus, judges’ perspective on each nominee is well-rounded, reflecting a mix of specs and tangible business value.
Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator, says, “It would be hard to describe the past few years as anything other than a challenge for the commercial AV industry and the integrators who power it. It’s a testament to integrators’ business acumen and technical skill that so many of them have managed to rebound robustly despite macroeconomic and societal headwinds. Their ability to bounce back is directly related to the tools that their vendor and distributor partners arm them with, and the BEST Awards represent CI’s best effort to spotlight those tools.”
Ferrisi continues, “In the slideshow that follows, you’ll see some of the very best hardware, software, services and other integrator resources. Although our panel of independent judges determined winners in the respective categories, I want to commend every BEST Award nominee for supplying the jet fuel that keeps integrators — and the experiences they create — moving forward. Truly, each of you deserves recognition and praise.”
Without further ado, enjoy this spotlight of BEST Award winners. And don’t forget to start thinking about what products in your pipeline might be good candidates for the 2023 BEST Awards!
AUDIO COMPONENTS & PROCESSORS
Axis Communications, Inc.
AXIS D4100-E Network Strobe Siren
AUDIO CONFERENCING SOLUTIONS
Shure Incorporated
MXA920 Ceiling Microphone Array
AUDIO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Dayton Audio
DAX88 8-Source 8-Zone Distributed Audio Matrix Amplifier
COLLABORATION
Sharp NEC Display Solutions
PN-L2B Series AQUOS BOARD
CONFERENCE/CLASSROOM PROJECTORS
Sharp NEC Display Solutions
PE506UL Laser Projector
DIGITAL SIGNAGE HARDWARE (TIE)
Samsung
Samsung Modular display ‘The Wall’ 0.63 pitch (IWB) + S-Box (SNOW-AAE)
MAXHUB
ND75PNA 75″ Commercial Display
DISPLAY MOUNTS
rp Visual Solutions
Wallmate Flush (32MAXBF-XMS-ADA)
INSTALLED LOUDSPEAKERS & SUBWOOFERS
Renkus-Heinz
PCX Series
INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS
LG Business Solutions
LG CreateBoard
LARGE-VENUE PROJECTORS
Epson America, Inc.
Epson EB-PU2220B Large Venue 3LCD Laser Projector with 4K Enhancement
MATRIX SWITCHERS
Just Add Power
MaxColor 4K60 Series
MICROPHONES
ClearOne
DIALOG 10 USB
OUTDOOR DISPLAYS
Samsung
Outdoor signage (OH55A-S)
PAN/TILT/ZOOM CAMERAS
HuddleCamHD
SimplTrack Lite
SPECIALTY A/V CABLES, INTERCONNECTS & IR EXTENDERS
Comprehensive Connectivity Company
MicroFlex Pro AV/IT Integrator Series Certified 8K 48G HDMI Cables
TVs/VIDEO MONITORS
Samsung
Neo QLED 8K signage (QPA-8K 65” 75” 85”)
VENUE/LINE-ARRAY LOUDSPEAKERS
Meyer Sound
PANTHER Large-Format Linear Line Array Loudspeaker
VIDEO COMPONENTS & PROCESSORS
Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd.
MX40 Pro
VIDEOCONFERENCING/TELEPRESENCE SOLUTIONS
Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Crestron Flex Phones for Microsoft Teams Display
VIDEO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Aurora Multimedia
VPX-TC1 Pro
VIDEO PROJECTION SCREENS
Da-Lite
Tensioned Advantage and Advantage with SightLine
VIDEOWALL SOLUTIONS
Sony Electronics
Crystal LED C-series and B-series
CELL SIGNAL BOOSTER SOLUTIONS
Nextivity
Cel-Fi QUATRA Fiber Range Extenders
MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENTS
Somfy Systems
TaHoma Gateway
POWER CONDITIONING, SURGE SUPPRESSION & ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Middle Atlantic Products
NEXSYS
LARGE-SCALE CONTROL SYSTEMS
Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Crestron VC-4 Virtual Control
TOUCHSCREENS
Somfy Systems
PoE Touch Panel Room Controller
CABINETS, FURNITURE, RACKS, MOUNTS & CASES
Salamander Designs
Infiniti Meeting Tables
CASE STUDY
Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Williams
PROGRAMMING, DESIGN & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
Axis Communications, Inc.
AXIS Device Manager Extend Base
PROJECT MANAGEMENT & DESIGN/WEB SOFTWARE
D-Tools, Inc.
System Integrator
TRAINING, CONSULTING & PUBLICATIONS/BUSINESS SERVICES
Exertis Almo
Exertis Almo E4 Experience
FIBEROPTIC TRANSPORT
Tripp Lite by Eaton
Spine-Leaf MPO Panel with Key-Up to Key-Up MTP/MPO Adapter – 12F MTP/MPO-PC
IP ENABLING DEVICES
Matrox Video
Matrox ConvertIP
MULTIMEDIA CABLING
Tripp Lite by Eaton
8K HDMI Plenum-Rated Fiber Active Optical Cable (AOC) – 8K UHD @ 60 Hz, HDR, M/M, Black, 10 m (Model P568F-10M-8K6)
ACCESS CONTROL SOLUTIONS
2N/Axis Communications, Inc.
2N IP Style
MASS NOTIFICATION EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION
Singlewire Software
InformaCast with Incident Management
