LAS VEGAS — As the professional audiovisual industry converges on the Las Vegas Convention Center for InfoComm 2026, Sonance Professional has emerged as a focal point of the exhibition floor. Demonstrating a decisive shift toward integrated, end-to-end solutions, the company is utilizing booth N6405 to debut a suite of innovations designed to streamline the workflow for systems integrators, consultants, and commercial audio contractors.
From the introduction of the PowerZone Connect PRO amplifier family to the launch of a sophisticated, browser-based system design tool, Sonance is clearly positioning itself as a one-stop-shop for complex, distributed audio environments.
The Core Innovation: PowerZone Connect PRO
The centerpiece of Sonance’s InfoComm 2026 presence is the commercial rollout of the PowerZone Connect PRO amplifier series. Initially teased during ISE 2026 in Barcelona, the PRO line represents a strategic evolution of the established PowerZone platform, specifically engineered to address the rigorous demands of 70/100-volt distributed audio systems.
Technical Specifications and Versatility
The PRO family enters the market with a robust lineup of 12 distinct models, offering options that include both standard and Dante-enabled variants. The core differentiator for these units is the inclusion of software-selectable output modes, allowing for seamless transition between 70/100-volt and 8-ohm operation. By maintaining the familiar zone processing and control workflow of the original PowerZone line, Sonance has ensured that existing users can integrate the new hardware without a steep learning curve.
"The PowerZone Connect PRO amplifiers allow Sonance to deliver an end-to-end engineered system," explains Josh Blanken, Director of Product Management at Sonance. "By making constant voltage the core architecture of our platform and aligning our pricing structures with the economic realities of the projects our dealers are currently specifying, we are providing a highly competitive toolset for the modern commercial landscape."
Firmware Evolution: The PowerZone Control Update
Alongside the hardware launch, Sonance is debuting a significant firmware overhaul for the PowerZone Control platform. This update is not merely an incremental patch; it represents a fundamental streamlining of the user experience.
Enhanced Dashboard and Real-Time Monitoring
The updated interface features a comprehensive, at-a-glance dashboard. Integrators can now monitor input activity, output levels, network status, and zone-specific mutes in real-time. This level of granular visibility is critical for commercial deployments where system uptime is non-negotiable.
Furthermore, the firmware includes a pre-loaded Sonance Speaker Library, which eliminates the tedious manual import process previously required for system commissioning. Advanced acoustic tuning is also addressed through the inclusion of Room EQ Wizard (REW) file import, alongside new Low and High Tilt filter options, providing installers with professional-grade calibration tools directly within the amplifier’s browser-based interface.
System Design Redefined: The Sonance System Calculator
Perhaps the most ambitious announcement from Sonance at InfoComm 2026 is the unveiling of the Sonance System Calculator. Launching globally on June 15, 2026, the tool aims to replace the fragmented, time-consuming manual calculation processes that have long plagued the AV industry.
Efficiency Through Automation
The browser-based calculator requires no installation or login, adhering to a "design for the room, not the product" philosophy. By inputting basic parameters—such as room dimensions, intended use case, and ambient noise levels—the tool performs the following functions:
- Loudspeaker Recommendation: Automatically suggests the appropriate model from the Sonance Professional Series.
- Spatial Analysis: Calculates optimal placement and coverage patterns.
- Technical Sizing: Determines transformer tap settings and rack space requirements for amplifiers.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Generates a single, consolidated project report featuring 2D floorplans, SPL heat maps, cross-section elevations, and rack diagrams.
Built on industry-standard AVIXA coverage metrics, the tool is expected to reduce the pre-sales engineering cycle from hours to minutes, a massive productivity gain for busy systems integrators.
Previewing the Future: iPadOS Control Application
Looking toward the second half of 2026, Sonance is providing a technology preview of its upcoming iPadOS control application. Designed to interface directly with both standard and PRO versions of the PowerZone Connect amplifiers, the app aims to unify system management.
Key features include:
- Multi-Zone Management: Control of up to eight independent zones from a single interface.
- Preset Recall: Instant adjustment of audio parameters for varying facility requirements (e.g., morning background music vs. evening event mode).
- Security and Admin: Robust settings to prevent unauthorized tampering in public-facing commercial environments.
When paired with IPORT Wallstations, the application promises a seamless "in-wall-to-handheld" control experience, bridging the gap between fixed-point control and mobile flexibility.
Industry Implications and Market Strategy
Sonance’s strategy at InfoComm 2026 signals a clear departure from treating amplifiers as "black box" utilities and instead framing them as the nervous system of an AV installation. By controlling the speaker library, the amplification, the design software, and the control interface, Sonance is building a proprietary ecosystem that encourages brand loyalty through sheer interoperability.
The Shift Toward "Engineered Systems"
The emphasis on "constant voltage as the platform’s core architecture" suggests that Sonance is aggressively targeting the high-volume commercial sector—retail, hospitality, and corporate office spaces. By aligning their hardware specs with the needs of these specific verticals, the company is effectively lowering the barrier to entry for integrators who may have previously favored more traditional, legacy amplifier brands.
Impact on the Integrator Workflow
For the average AV technician, the combination of the System Calculator and the pre-loaded speaker presets in the firmware represents a major reduction in commissioning time. In an industry currently facing a shortage of skilled labor, tools that automate design and simplify setup are becoming just as valuable as the hardware itself.
Chronology of Developments
- Early 2026: Sonance introduces the PowerZone Connect PRO line at ISE in Barcelona.
- June 13, 2026: Official unveiling of the full PRO range and firmware updates at InfoComm 2026, Las Vegas.
- June 15, 2026: Public launch of the browser-based Sonance System Calculator at Sonance.com.
- Summer 2026: Expected rollout of the native iPadOS control application.
Official Perspective
The overarching theme of Sonance’s presence at InfoComm is accessibility. By leveraging browser-based tools and firmware updates, they are ensuring that their technology remains relevant to both new and existing customers. As Josh Blanken noted, the goal is to provide an "end-to-end" experience that respects the project budgets of their partners.
As the show continues, industry analysts will be watching to see how competitors react to the integration of the System Calculator, which sets a high bar for manufacturer-provided design software.
For those attending InfoComm 2026, Sonance Professional is currently stationed at Booth N6405. For those following remotely, the company has pledged to maintain its support documentation and updated firmware through its online portal, ensuring that the developments announced in Las Vegas reach the global installation community immediately.
For more information on the latest innovations in audio technology and full coverage of the 2026 InfoComm show, stay tuned to ProSoundWeb.
