10 Top AV Magazines to Keep Yourself Updated
Everywhere you look in the tech industry, there are new advancements and updates being made. Nowhere is that more true than in the audiovisual world. So, if you’re an AV professional, it’s important that you keep abreast of the most recent goings-on in the sector, to ensure that you’re never out of the loop.
To do so, you’ll have to read up on the latest products, trends, and changes as much as you can. But, a lot of valuable time can go into finding the right material to read. That’s where AV magazines step in, offering industry experts selections of pre-packaged, curated articles and interviews, designed to keep the reader informed.
But, what are the best and most informative AV magazines to read?
10 of the Best AV Magazines to Subscribe to Today
Keep advancing your knowledge and stay one step ahead of everyone else in the game, by subscribing to one or more of the following AV magazines.
1. Sound & Communications
Based in New York, Sound & Communications is the magazine for professionals who design, integrate, and manage AV systems for commercial venues worldwide. Its monthly installations, which are available in print in the US and digitally elsewhere, focus on bringing you solutions to industry issues, and offer insights into new product launches, market analysis, and other, more general industry news.
Sound & Communications has been around since 1955 and, since that time, it has built a reputation for being a trustworthy and informative publication. It’s also free for qualified industry professionals in countries across the world, so you won’t have to break the bank for high-quality updates.
2. AV Magazine
For AV experts in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere, AV Magazine is a particularly popular and reliable source of up-to-date news and research. Having been established back in 1972, it has developed quite the following. As it stands today, it has around 18,000 readers in the UK and more than 37,000 beyond. And, better still, its content is all available for free online!
As well as exclusive stories on the new projects and products making waves in the market, it is particularly useful if you’re looking for technology reports and cutting-edge research on important industry issues.
3. Inavate
Inavate caters to a broad and often underserved segment of the global market, giving AV professionals in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa access to all the latest news updates and events coverage. It specializes in exploring the intersection of AV with a range of other verticals. As such, it is able to offer a bigger-picture view of the trends occurring within and around the audiovisual sector.
Edited by Paul Milligan in the UK, the recent issue has covered everything from the coronavirus crisis to Brexit, giving readers an in-depth look at how these global current events have impacted the AV industry as a whole.
4. AV-ICN
Published online every two months, AV-ICN is India’s primary AV magazine for professionals working in all segments of the industry, including manufacturing, operations, and consulting. It provides a focused perspective on the goings-on in AV in regions across India, although it can also be accessed online for free in other countries.
Featuring insights from a range of professionals, there are comprehensive interviews as well as articles that cover industry news. Market reports are also included, as are industry analysis and recent trends, giving readers a useful overview of the sector as a whole.
5. Essential Install
For those who work in AV installations, Essential Install has all the information you could need to stay ahead of the curve. However, it also caters well to AV retailers, distributors, developers, and more. It’s completely free to subscribe to, too, making this one-stop shop accessible to people throughout the industry.
It boasts an impressive mix of of-the-moment case studies and expert features, so you’ll always be in the know about everything from game-changing industry news to new products.
6. Sound&Video Contractor
Anyone working in the AV industry, from dealers and consultants to integrators and contractors, could stand to benefit from Sound & Video Contractor’s free magazine. Packed with innovative information regarding solutions to technical problems, developments in products and standards, and new systems integrations, it offers something slightly different to some of the other AV magazines on the market.
Priding itself on its deep analysis of all things audiovisual, subscribers can expect to find case studies of successful installations and significant company collaborations, amongst other things.
7. Commercial Integrator
Okay, so Commercial Integrator isn’t specifically an audiovisual magazine. However, their online platform has a whole section dedicated to all things AV, including noteworthy projects and resources that industry experts are likely to find useful. And, similarly, its magazine includes a wide range of thought-provoking, AV-specific articles.
While based in the United States, Commercial Integrator is available to subscribers elsewhere, too. Ideally suited to integrators who serve small to medium-sized businesses, there is a lot of information that could prove invaluable to people in this niche, no matter what country they’re in.
8. Digital Signage Magazine
As part of the wider and highly reputable AV Network, Digital Signage is an online magazine that covers (you guessed it) everything to do with digital signage. So, for those looking for new ways to engage, inform, and inspire through large-scale visuals, it is the perfect publication.
From the contextual to the specific, Digital Signage takes a deep dive into this smaller pocket of the AV industry. Sadly, it isn’t updated all that often, but readers can still expect to find great content several times a year. So, if it’s quality rather than quantity you’re after, there’s no need to look any further.
9. Sound+Image
Over in Australia, Sound+Image magazine reigns supreme amongst AV fans. Primarily focused on at-home entertainment such as home cinema installations and multiroom music systems, it is targeted mainly at audiovisual fans rather than professionals. However, its detailed product reviews and comparisons are really handy for professionals hoping to get a sense of what’s popular amongst consumers.
It will cost you $28 to subscribe to this bimonthly publication for a year. Or, if you only want a single issue, you can choose to purchase a one-off for just $4.49.
10. Installation
It’s no secret that the AV sector is a fast-evolving one. So, if you’re a professional determined to stay updated on the best emerging tech, look no further than Installation magazine. Serving AV professionals and influencers alike, it is both a thorough and thoroughly readable publication.
You will find engaging features, interviews with industry high-fliers, and solutions case studies on Installation’s online platform and in its free-to-access digital magazine. And, to be sure you never miss out, you can subscribe to printed editions of the magazine, too, which is also free for qualified readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve got any more burning questions about AV magazines or the industry itself, our FAQ has the answers you’re looking for.
How Dynamic Is the AV Industry?
The AV industry is ever-changing, as the need for new, more advanced tech becomes greater in professional environments and at home. Unfortunately, Covid-19 brought some industry stagnation with it, the long-term impact of which is yet to be seen.
Why Is It Important to Keep Yourself Updated With AV News?
If you’re an AV professional, it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and developments. You never know when you might have to install something new or consult on a recently introduced product.
What Can You Read About in AV Magazines?
The exact topics you’ll see covered in AV magazines vary between publications. Some, like Essential Install, are specific to certain areas of the industry, while others such as Sound & Communications and AV Magazine are more broad.
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