Crestron at InfoComm 2025: Moving Higher Ed from Boxes to Networks
When you think of Crestron at InfoComm, a few things probably come to mind: huge booth, packed aisles, lots of gear, and a sense that everything you see is built to scale. This year was no exception — but if you stopped by booth #2300, you may have noticed something different. Not just in the layout (which was noticeably more open and easier to navigate), but in the message: it’s time to fully embrace networked AV — and Crestron’s got a plan to help higher ed get there.
We caught up with John Hulen, Crestron’s Director of Channel Marketing for Education, to talk about what that plan looks like. His energy was high, even by Day 1 standards, and the booth was already buzzing.
He mentioned that booth traffic was strong right from the start, due in part to their location near the entrance — giving them a steady stream of engaged attendees.
It’s true — the Crestron booth is always one of the busiest spots at InfoComm. But this year, it was buzzing with more than just foot traffic. The conversations were focused, the demos were tight, and the message was clear: let’s make the jump from traditional systems to smart, scalable, AV-over-IP infrastructure — and let’s make it practical for campuses.
“And we have nearly two thousand SKUs that go around content, collaboration, and control.”
What’s New: DM NVX Encoder/Decoder with Quad Input
The biggest announcement at the booth was a new 4-input AV-over-IP encoder/decoder added to the DM NVX family — Crestron’s flagship AV-over-IP platform that’s already widely deployed in higher ed.
This new model offers four HDMI inputs on a single device, with simultaneous encoding/decoding and full support for ultra-low latency, 4K60 4:4:4 video over standard 1Gb networks. And just as important, it comes with the familiar Crestron management tools that AV and IT teams already know.
What does that mean in practical terms? Fewer boxes. Less cabling. More centralized control. And better support for complex lecture capture, multi-source display switching, and overflow routing.
If you’re building out lecture halls, esports arenas, or any space with multi-input flexibility needs, this could seriously simplify your rack and your config.
Beyond Hardware: Helping Higher Ed Migrate Smartly
The real story at Crestron’s booth this year wasn’t just product updates — it was about strategy. Specifically, how higher ed institutions can migrate to fully networked AV without blowing up what’s already working.
In their messaging, Crestron made it clear that they’re focused on supporting institutions that are ready to transition toward more connected, manageable infrastructure.
Crestron’s pitch here isn’t about forcing a forklift upgrade. It’s about recognizing where schools are in the process — often with mixed-fleet rooms, aging DM infrastructure, and varying levels of IT integration — and offering a path forward that’s modular, supported, and not too disruptive.
“Software control and then control from a management standpoint all the way up in the cloud.”
They’re emphasizing incremental modernization, with clear on-ramps to features like:
- Unified AV control over IP
- Room scheduling and occupancy automation
- Centralized device monitoring via Crestron XiO Cloud
- Seamless integration with UC platforms and lecture capture systems
No More Islands: Consolidating the AV Stack
One of the biggest pain points for higher ed AV teams is fragmentation. You’ve got one system for routing video, another for control, a third for room scheduling, and a fourth (maybe?) for remote monitoring. Crestron’s value proposition has always been about consolidation — and InfoComm 2025 showed they’re doubling down on that.
In a quick booth tour, it was easy to see how NVX, Flex, and AirMedia all tie together into a unified experience. Room control panels can manage not just AV switching, but lighting, shades, climate, and occupancy. XiO Cloud pushes firmware updates, monitors device health, and provides a dashboard view across every classroom.
It’s all IP-based, all standards-friendly, and all meant to scale as campuses grow.
The message was clear throughout the booth: modern learning spaces need seamless AV experiences, and Crestron is focused on delivering scalable, reliable tools to support that.
What’s It Like to Deploy?
Crestron has a reputation for being powerful — but sometimes complex. That’s something they’re actively working on. With newer tools like Crestron Construct, and improved support documentation, the ramp-up for internal teams is smoother than it’s ever been.
“And I think that provides one of the most holistic, you know, solutions and possibilities that higher ed can look at.”
The goal is to empower AV/IT teams inside colleges and universities to manage and expand their systems without needing a third-party integrator every time they add a room or tweak a layout.
For many institutions, especially those managing 100+ rooms across multiple buildings, that kind of self-service ability is key to long-term success.
Can’t Make It to InfoComm? They’ve Got You
Recognizing that not every higher ed AV team could make it to Orlando this year, Crestron recorded a full booth tour video, hosted by Craig DiLouie. It covers the major updates, product launches, and live demos from InfoComm, packaged up for on-demand viewing.
That move alone reflects a growing awareness that the AV world doesn’t stop for trade shows — and that more institutions are operating with lean teams and limited travel budgets.
So even if your badge didn’t get scanned at booth 2300, you can still catch the key takeaways from wherever you are.
Final Thoughts
Crestron didn’t show up at InfoComm 2025 trying to be flashy — they showed up with a plan. One that speaks directly to the challenges higher ed teams are facing: legacy systems, staffing limits, growing demands for hybrid functionality, and the never-ending need to simplify operations.
With their new multi-input NVX unit, tighter integration between platforms, and a clear strategy for supporting migration to networked AV, they’re offering more than products. They’re offering alignment — with how campuses work, how teams are staffed, and how long-term technology strategy gets built.
If you’re in the middle of a room standardization effort, debating AV-over-IP adoption, or just trying to get a handle on managing it all from a single pane of glass, Crestron’s roadmap is one worth checking out.
Learn More
Explore higher ed AV solutions from Crestron:
🔗 https://www.crestron.com/solutions/market/classroom
Watch the InfoComm 2025 booth tour:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbkC14Bu_2U
Or contact John Hulen directly:
📧 jhulen@crestron.com
