InfoComm 2024—The buzz upon returning to the office was brilliant, so what better way to harness this enthusiasm than to ask Tom and Lorenzo from HQ to give us their highlights from the show?
Paint us a picture of the mighty Vegas.
Tom, “Las Vegas, the scorching heat, and the colossal Sphere welcoming you with vibrant displays. It was as if the city was saying, Welcome to InfoComm, where the technology is sizzling, and so is the atmosphere! (Yes, cheesy, but Vegas does that to you).”
How did this year's show compare to last year's?
Lorenzo: “This year's InfoComm showed a vast improvement compared to last year. It felt like we'd escaped from pandemic-land and returned to the good old days of pre-COVID excitement. There was lots of excitement around all three brands, which means the news about our K-ecosystem and the value it adds is out! Plus, our demo room added a new realm to our K-experience! As Italians, it's not in our nature to shout about our successes; we prefer to go under the radar. But getting the opportunity to showcase everything from our tiniest speakers to our larger systems really allowed us to show we do compete with the big boys.”
Tom: “The show drew many new visitors, particularly from the West Coast, many of whom had not previously encountered our KZ14 micro loudspeakers in action. It was truly remarkable to witness their reactions as they explored the full range of speakers and to see their minds blown when we demonstrated the tiny Lyzard and the larger Kayman models. I also noticed a vast improvement in end users and integrators at the event, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. Conversations were different from what we normally expect. Corporate requirements were the topic of conversation! One of my personal highlights was the opportunity to discuss the future of audio at ISE alongside industry peers, such as L-acoustics, Martin Audio, Holoplot, and Adamson, during the ISE Advisory Meeting with Mike Blackman and his team.”
Which K-brand technologies stole the show this year?
Lorenzo; “The RAIL and Lyzards, along with Anakonda, always make a BIG impression. But this year I feel KGEAR’s GH4 got the love they deserved and given its size vs performance ratio, it’s seriously left a lasting impression. Software is crucial to our tech supply chain to help our customers. We’ve spent a lot of time finessing our offering this year, which covers everything from planning to deployment and ongoing maintenance—and you could really tell from the conversations that this was a game-changer for them. Plus, the cloud-based solutions introduced this year have been a significant breakthrough.”
Tom; “The unforgettable demo at Rick Camp’s studio. Picture this: an immersive experience with all K-array speakers set up in an immersive way, including synchronised moving chairs. It was like being in a sci-fi movie."
What were your personal highlights?
Lorenzo:"We are proud to be Italian, and we all live and breathe the values of the company, and what the products represent - I really feel people are now getting under the skin of K-array and understanding and appreciating what we are all about. We aren’t the same as everyone else; different can scare people, but the tides have turned and people can truly see the value we deliver. I also loved being part of our US family. The team has grown so much and so quickly! The market is eager to know more about K-array, and this is a testament to the brilliant work the US team is doing. In regards to the industry, it is young, exciting, and people are very passionate. This makes me want to get out of bed in the morning."
Tom “My personal highlight was the AV User Group Speed pitches. This is my fourth time talking in front of end-users and consultants across the UK, Europe and the US. It’s exciting to see the response that they are having to our small but powerful systems built with love and emotion. There were many new faces at this event we had never met before. It was so beneficial, and people went out of their way to come to the demo room. And one person in particular just kept coming back as he was so amazed by our products! My other highlight was from the stand. We were super impressed by South American attendance, and the stand was crazy, crazy busy all the time. We didn’t stop to breathe—in a good way"
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, or does it…?
Lorenzo; “Vegas was a blast – top-notch entertainment and the whole crazy experience in full swing….that’s all the details I can give ;-) What else? Oh yes, Daniel lost his luggage and ended up borrowing T-shirts. He rocked the "lost and found" look! But seriously, he handled this very well, considering… "
Tom; “A personal highlight for me was the near-death experiences with Uber drivers – and by "crazy," I mean ex-prisoners who probably drove getaway cars! We also discovered the US’s number one Italian restaurant (it even got the thumbs up by us Italians), Ferraro’s, as voted by Gambero Rosso. Sam Spennachio, our National Sales Director, recommended it. The food was amazing! We took our Japanese distributors there, and I’m pretty sure we’ll give away a big secret if word gets out about this place. Visiting TAO Nightclub was eventful. They offered us earplugs because the sound was so bad….I wonder what sound system they use…. We also checked out The Sphere, and the robot at the entrance featured K-array sound, which surprised us all!"
Top Tips for Surviving Vegas:
Lorenzo's Pro Tip: “Always travel with 10mg of melatonin – it’s a lifesaver for the flight home. (Thank you, US Pharmacies, for keeping us from becoming sleep-deprived zombies!)”
Tom: “It’s a whirlwind four days on the other side of the world. Just go with the flow and stay hydrated.”
