Our Top 10 Picks from ISE 2025!
Posted on: 14th February 2025
Last week we attended ISE 2025 in Barcelona, one of the world’s largest AV and technology trade shows. We enjoyed plenty of tasty tapas while reconnecting with industry friends, customers, and suppliers, and exploring the latest innovations from our market-leading manufacturers.
From cutting-edge AV solutions to innovative lighting and networking products, the show was packed with exciting releases from our manufacturers. In no particular order, here are our top 10 picks from the show:
Dynacord IX Series – Advanced Networked DSP for All Budgets
Dynacord unveiled their IX Series, a new line of multi-channel networked DSP amplifiers that offer enhanced performance and intelligent DSP processing, from a compact 1U box. IX offers a flexible multi-tool amp that gives you advanced DSP capabilities but keeps your project costs reasonable, filling a gap in the market helpful for all installers.
IX gives you advanced features but can manage with less power for the sound system. It’s Dante™ equipped, but with mic-line level inputs that can also be used ad Dante™ break-ins. It’s equipped with fully-featured DSP that includes a Matrix Mixer, Dynamics, FIR-Drive and Dynacord Studio FX; handling all signal processing and zone mixing, without the need for an external DSP.
IX features Dynacord’s ghostPOWER PoE that maintains all DSP settings, Dante™ network and mic-line input, independent of mains power. ecoRAIL reduces energy consumption up to 50% compared to conventional class-D amps, and powerTANK offers flexible power allocation serving as a dynamic power reservoir, allowing you to drive various loudspeakers at different sizes, delivering power across all channels as needed. And what’s more? It’s all controllable via the easy-to-use SonicCue sound system software. And of course, it supports high-Z and low-Z applications.
JBL New Control 400 Ceiling Speakers – A Bevel-Less Grille (finally!)
JBL showcased their brand-new Control 400 Ceiling Speakers, the next generation of their acclaimed ceiling speaker portfolio and successor to their iconic Control 20 Series.
The 400 Series boasts enhanced coverage, superior sonic performance and improved installation features with a modern aesthetic that looks easier on the eye (a magnetic bevel-less grille, finally!) and is easier to install.
400 series is available in 6 models: 4-inch, 4-inch low-profile, 6.5-inch, 6.5-inch low-profile, 6.5-inch Life Safety and 8-inch Ceiling Subwoofer. All models include transformers for both 70/100V and low-impedance installations.
Ideal for retail stores, corporate offices, education spaces, transport, and any other application that requires a power ceiling speaker with a sleek aesthetic.
RCF NXL 14A – Raise the Bar of Performance
Sitting pretty in the middle of RCF’s booth, RCF’s NXL 14A modular line-source column speaker is a standout addition to their active speaker lineup. Boasting powerful output, precise coverage, and DSP processing, this speaker is perfect for rental companies, professional DJs and musicians but intended also for permanent installation. They boast an incredible size-to-power ratio with powerful onboard amplification, DSP and a complete set of rigging accessories.
With a 100° x 25° constant directivity coverage angle, the NXL 14-A ensures precise and powerful sound distribution across various configurations, eliminating the need for enclosure tilting. They also boast Bass Motion Control which means they can handle the lower audible frequencies without affecting the woofer stability, with extended linearity and better integrity. They also have FiRPHASE processing built-in, RCF’s advanced FIR technology that allows for coherent distribution of sound for all listeners without phase distortions, ensuring minimal latency in the system.
Biamp VOLTERA
Biamp showcased their VOLTERA range of half-1U and 1U compact amplifiers that offer an energy-efficient solution that flexibly distributes power to the loudspeakers. Their efficient design reduces heat output and power consumption, making them a sustainable choice without compromising on performance.
They are available in three sub-families:
- Voltera A: Four half-rack 1U amplifiers with a total power of 300 or 600 watts, delivered by two or four channels. The amp channels are extremely flexible in that they can be individually selected to drive either 4ohm, 8ohm, 70v or 100v whilst also supporting power sharing so that up to twice the power can be delivered by any channel. Their compact design and flexible nature makes them ideal for restaurants, hotels, bars, education, small houses of worship, corporate and other applications that require advanced power flexibility from super compact half-1U unit.
- Voltera D: Four 1U amplifiers that include power onboard DSP, sophisticated tools for running rooms whilst offering reliability, solid sound audio performance plus space and cost-saving benefits. They work with the VenueTune software that offers an easy-to-use graphical interface armed with 2D floorplans and phased workflow to guide system designers and installers.
- Voltera D M: Five 1U amplifiers offering fully programmable onboard DSP with enough headroom for complex audio progressing and distribution. This combination reduces device count and wiring needs, reducing your project costs and difficulty.
Theatrixx PoE Switches & 4-Bay Portable Rack
Theatrixx debuted their new line of rugged Gigabit switches built to withstand the rigors of touring and live production. Their PoE+ switch has 120W of power budget, giving you 4 channels of 30W per channel, plus PTP (Precision Time Protocol) for clock synchronisation throughout your network. The PoE++ model offers you a 180W power budget, enabling you to do 2x 90 watt, 4x 30 watt or a combination of 60s and 30s.
They both offer vLAN tagging, helping you classify the different information packets across your network and making it clear which VLAN each packet belongs to.
Both models come in the rugged 6.35mm aluminium housing, have recessed & chassis-screwed connectors, no dipswitches, LED status indicators, built-in power supply with power-out, and have a fibre down link connector, available in single-mode or multi-mode.
And of course, everyone’s favourite feature. They’re magnetic, too! Saving you rolls of gaffer tape whilst keeping your workspace tidy.
Their new 4-bay portable rack offers you a robust unit to house up to 4x reversible video conversion/distribution modules, an easy solution to throw-down back stage or next to your video Portable Production Unit (PPU), a must-have for touring professionals and rental companies.
Biamp/Community CCA-80 Aisle Loudspeaker – Long Throw, Consistent Coverage
Designed for large aisles in warehousing, supermarkets, airports and any other application with long, narrow spaces with high ceilings. This loudspeaker is designed to overcome the unique acoustical challenges of this type of space. It’s engineered to provide asymmetric constant coverage, delivering consistent coverage from directly beneath the loudspeaker, right to the end of its exceptional throw distance. This focuses the sound straight at the listeners’ ears and minimises reflections and reverberations.
In a long aisle, simply mount two of these speakers back-to-back and you’ve got your whole aisle covered with clear speech intelligibility for paging applications and good background music reproduction.
CHAUVET WELL Series – Powerful Battery Lighting Solutions
CHAUVET’s WELL Series continues to impress with its latest updates. These battery-powered, wireless fixtures provide flexible and reliable lighting solutions for events, architectural installations, and entertainment venues. With improved battery life, brighter output, and enhanced connectivity, the new WELL models offer unparalleled versatility.
There are four new models in the range, we’ve already written more about them in our CHAUVET UK SHOWCASE Blog. Check it out here!
Allen & Heath SQ Rack – A New Standard of Compact Digital Mixing
Allen & Heath expanded their renowned SQ Series with the SQ Rack. It is exactly what it says on the tin… Everything you’ve come to love from the SQ Series, but in a rack! It’s a 48 channel, 96Khz rackmount digital mixer great for AV hire production companies, live sound engineers and install, combining power, flexibility and intuitive control in one versatile solution.
Cloud CS-S Speakers (Customs had other plans! ;) )
Cloud have finally mastered the invisible loudspeaker! Stood proudly on their stand were three magnificent wooden plinths, looking rather lonely without their brand-new innovative loudspeakers. Despite weeks of planning, their speakers unfortunately weren’t at the show. But they are really innovative, so we’d like to tell you about them anyway!
Cloud’s new CS-S series speakers are a line of 8”, 10” and 12” loudspeakers with interchangeable control modules, meaning you can customise them for your specific requirements. They make an excellent choice for front-of-house PA and also perform well as background music speakers.
Interchangeable control modules include Passive, 100v, Active and Active with Dante. Yes, Active with Dante!
Sennheiser Spectera – The Future of Wireless Pro Audio
Sennheiser showcased their cutting-edge Spectera wireless system, a revolutionary wireless microphone solution designed for high-end live production and touring. Spectera is the first of its kind to utilise WMAS (Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems) technology for bi-directional transmission of audio signals. It allows you to run up to 64 channels (32 in, 32 out) in a single unit and gives you unprecedented control of latency and audio quality. Its bidirectional bodypack, which looks a tad unconventional at a first glance, manages both in-ear monitor and mic/line signals simultaneously.
Bonus Pick: RCF TT+ Audio GTX Line-Array Speakers
As a bonus, we couldn’t leave out the new RCF TT Audio GTX line-array speakers! Designed for large-scale production, these speakers are absolutely sensational and offer a hugely more cost-effective solution to the industry standard choices that currently dominate riders across the UK and Europe. How long will it be until these are seen on riders on a regular basis? Once you discover the incredible sound and cost saving that comes with it, it’s surely an inevitability waiting to happen.
If you’re in ISE next year, we highly recommend that you experience the TT+ Audio GTX Demo in RCF’s demo room. It will blow you away.
Final Thoughts
ISE 2025 showcased some incredible innovations and we’re thrilled to bring these products to you. Whether you’re looking for high-performance audio, innovative lighting solutions, or advanced networking gear, there’s plenty to be excited about in the AV industry this year. Stay tuned as we introduce these products into stock, and don’t hesitate to get in touch for more details!
Did you attend ISE 2025? Let us know what caught your eye!
